Robot with magnetic wheels for cleaning ship hulls

The application describes a device in the form of a robot (1) for performing operations on ship's hulls (25). The robot (1) comprises magnetic wheels (4) enabling the robot (1) to adhere to ferrous hulls (25) via magnetic forces and a suspension arrangement (5, 10, 11, 12, 24) for supporting the wheels (4) on a body (2, 3) of the robot (1) and for allowing the robot (1) to travel over uneven surfaces. The wheels (4) include a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels, with the pairs of wheels spaced apart from one another along a length of the robot (1). The suspension arrangement comprises a suspension pivot mechanism (5, 24) allowing a line extending between the centres of the first pair of wheels to rotate relative to a line extending between the centres of the second pair of wheels, along with a camber pivot mechanism (10, 11, 12) for each wheel (4), with the camber pivot mechanism (10, 11, 12) allowing the axis of rotation of the wheel (4) to rotate relative to the axes of rotation of the other wheels (4) in order that the wheel (4) can align its axis of rotation with the surface of the hull (25). The magnetic forces for attaching the wheel (4) to the hull (25) act to rotate the suspension pivot mechanism (5, 24) and camber pivot mechanisms (10, 11, 12). The robot (1) can therefore maintain a secure contact with the hull (25) as it travels over the hull (25).