Tiny robots to revolutionise inspection and maintenance of water pipes and sewers

Key to the pipebot concept is how the little machines will work collaboratively, in teams. This will offers a number of benefits, Prof. Horoshenkov noted, the first of which is that it will enable them to inspect a larger network and without accidentally doubling up their work.

The team envisage a gang of robots being housed in a garage-like hub, which could be lowered down a manhole or similar access point to deliver them into the pipe system — or, in a more permanent case, attached to the underside of a manhole cover.

Beyond getting the robots to where they are needed, this “garage” could also serve as a cleaning station. As one might imagine, the bots are likely to get filthy traversing sewage pipes — which contain all manner of waste, toilet paper, etc.

However, water pipes also can acquire a coating known as a “biofilm”, which is made up of a mixture of bacteria, fungi and protozoa. While these are not generally considered a risk to human health, the robots will need to be designed to minimise disturbance to the films, as even a small disturbance can have a noticeable impact on the appearance of the water.

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Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1704939/pipebots-tiny-robots-revolutionise-inspection-maintenance-water-pipes-sewers