The Robot case is a pipe

Remote control devices will repair pipelines from the inside of the US Ministry of Energy finances the creation of robots that will work inside an extensive American gas pipeline network. They will be able to not only monitor the condition in which the pipes are located, but also, if necessary, carry out minor repairs. While the first robots are undergoing test tests, scientists from the University of Missouri-Roll have already proposed a method that will allow these devices to transmit data to the operator: based on the gas pipeline, Wi-Fi wireless network will be created.

The total length of the US gas pipeline network is 1.9 million km. According to statistics, most of its plots were built 50 years ago, and in the northeast of the country some pipes have not changed since 1890. In 2002, the US Congress adopted a law on improving the safety of pipes, which requires an aging infrastructure every 5 years.

“While the existing gas network is obsolete, it is necessary to inspect pipelines for corrosion, cracks and other damage, which may end in order to the entire line,” says Professor Kalvin Erickson, head of the department of the University of Missouri -Roll. The US gas companies spend 300 million dollars a year on maintaining pipes and experience a clear need for technology that would reduce their repair costs and inspection.

Now special platforms are used to check the pipeline: a device whose weight can reach two tons is placed in a pipe, under gas pressure, it passes tens of kilometers and records the magnetic field data. According to these data, repairmen can find out where there are gaps and weaknesses in the pipe. The device was nicknamed the “smart pig”, since, flying through the pipe, it makes a sound that looks like a pig's screech. The “pig” can only move in a straight line, and the areas on which there are turns - they make up 30% of the entire length of the gas pipeline - it is not affordable. In addition, this device cannot be used for inspection and repair of small diameter pipes.

Last year, several companies offered the Ministry of Energy their projects of repair robots. In particular, one of the successful developments was presented by Hegen Shempt, an engineer of the National Consortium Robotics in Lawrenceville: his one and a half meter Explorer robot (“researcher”) can move in pipes with a diameter of 15-20 cm. The robot resembles a worm and consists of seven modules. He has his own energy supply, and he moves completely independently, resting the wheels against the pipe walls. He is also able to overcome bends and branches of 45-90 degrees. To develop this robot, the price of which is up to 100 thousand US dollars, helped NASA and the North-Eastern Gas Association.

“With its help, you can check the pipes in one urban area for an hour,” says Shempt. The robot can be provided with devices for electronic scanning the surface and broadcasting video images. At the same time, he is able not only to inspect the gas pipeline, but also to independently eliminate the problems. According to Professor Erickson, such devices "can detect the problem before she has become a problem."

“These devices will come in handy in the north-east of the United States, where a very high population density and many communications are under buildings. There, the robot will be able to fix the malfunctions, and it will not be necessary to dig a gas pipeline, ”says Erickson.

“A safe and reliable connection should be established between the robot and the base,” says Professor Erickson. To exchange data with the device, engineers proposed to use the Wi-Fi protocol, usually used in computer networks. Data exchange on this protocol goes using a radio signal, and scientists noticed that the pipe can act as a kind of waveguide. “If, under normal conditions, the signal disappears at distances about 100-150 meters from the transmitter, in the pipes, sustainable communication spreads 1.5 kilometers,” Erickson shared his discovery.

12/14/2005 / Andrey Vetvinsky material published in the newspaper No. 238 dated December 15, 2005.