Miniature electrospinning system for in-situ coating application by drone

The aim of Nanofix project is to design, manufacture and demonstrate to potential partner and customers the application of in-situ protective nanocoating using an innovative compact electrospinning system moved by a drone.

Electrospinning is a process used to fabricate ultrathin fibres, whose diameter changes between micrometres and nanometres, during which a polymer jet is stretched with a multi kV electric field.

Taking advantage of a portable electrospinning system, our idea is to use this technology to steer the industrial application towards the production and commercialization of high performance nanocoating to prevent corrosion and weather damages.

As an easy carrying miniaturized system, this technology will allow the application of nanomaterials even on not easily accessible places, such as metal supporting structures of buildings or bridges, high voltage cables in transmission lines or piping lines.Our project is strictly related to the GrowBot project, whose aim is the creation of a miniaturized electrospinning system able to produce micro/nano polymeric fibres as synthetic “tendril” for the small growing robot (the GrowBot) to climb on vertical surfaces.

Being inspired to the movements of the climbing plant, this technology will allow to reach places otherwise unreachable for classic robots with wheels, rails or legs.