Andrew Wheatley

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Andrew Wheatley is a robotics researcher whose work focuses on the development of autonomous systems for hazardous industrial inspection, particularly in marine and offshore environments. His key research areas include climbing robotics, non-destructive testing (NDT) integration, and robotic manipulation for safety-critical applications. Wheatley’s most notable contribution is his work on the RIMCAW project, which produced a mooring chain climbing robot designed to perform NDT inspections above and below the waterline—addressing the dangerous and costly manual inspection of mooring chains. His 2018 paper on this topic, though early in its citation impact with 4 citations, lays foundational groundwork for automating vital safety checks in the maritime industry. Wheatley’s research highlights the intersection of mechanical design, sensor integration, and field deployment, aiming to reduce human risk while improving inspection reliability. His work is particularly relevant for researchers and engineers interested in field robotics, offshore asset maintenance, and the practical challenges of deploying robots in unstructured, corrosive environments.