Robot dog aids Daniel Carter Beard Bridge inspections

Local 12 highlighted the deployment of a robotic dog named Brutus to inspect the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge after a fire caused extensive damage to the southbound span.

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to develop new robotic technology to assist with transportation projects.

UC Digital Futures Senior Research Associate Bryan Kowalczyk and Research Associate Justin Ouwerkerk along with UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Professor Kelly Cohen received a grant from the Federal Highway Administration to develop the “ground-based robotic assistants” in cooperation with the state agency.

ODOT's Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Center deployed the robodog to assist with the inspection and repairs on the span. Brutus also can work in tandem with drone operations as a visual observer, ODOT said.

UC and the state are looking at other potential applications, including culvert inspections and responses to other transportation emergencies.

ODOT said the robodog can capture valuable information from atop the bridge deck and underneath it without putting people in harm’s way. Using attached sensors, crews use the robodog to conduct a Light Detection and Ranging scan of the damaged areas of the bridge. LiDAR is a remote sensing technology that uses lasers to measure distances and create digital models.

The LiDAR data supplements the drone footage that was captured following the fire to provide ODOT engineers with a more comprehensive understanding of bridge damage, ODOT said. The information collected can then be used in the design of repairs and to assess the structural integrity of the bridge.

Watch the Local 12 story.

Featured image at top: UC and the Ohio Department of Transportation deploy a robotic dog named Brutus to examine the fire-damaged Daniel Carter Beard Bridge. Photo/ODOT

UC and the Ohio Department of Transportation deploy a robotic dog to examine the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge after a fire at Sawyer Point caused extensive damage to the southbound lanes. Video/ODOT