scholarly journals Iterative Approach on Redesigning and Construction of a Pipe Inspection Robot

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Aleksandar Ristic
Keyword(s):  
Graphical User Interface ◽  
Video Feedback ◽  
Environmental Services ◽  
Iterative Approach ◽  
Purchase Price ◽  
Pipe Inspection ◽  
Inspection Robot ◽  
Video Feed ◽  
Inspection Robots ◽  
And Control

<p>A pipe inspection robot is a device that is inserted into pipes to check for obstructions or damage. These robots are traditionally manufactured offshore, are extremely expensive, and are often not adequately supported in the event of malfunction. This had resulted in Associated Environmental Services Limited, a New Zealand utiliser of this equipment, facing significant periods of down-time as they wait for their robots to be repaired. Recently, they were informed that several of their robots were no longer supported. At their instigation, this project was conceived to redesign the electronics and control system of one of these pipe inspection robots, utilising the existing mechanical platform. Requirements for the robot were that it must operate reliably in confined, dark and wet environments, and provide a human user with a digital video feed of the internal status of the pipes. This robot should, as much as possible, incorporate off-the-shelf components, facilitating cheap, and potentially on-site repair. This project details the redesign and construction of such a robot. It employs three electronic boards integrated with the mechanical components and provides video feedback via a custom graphical user interface. Although at the prototype stage, the electronic redesign has been successful, with a cost of less than a tenth of the original robot purchase price.</p>

scholarly journals Iterative Approach on Redesigning and Construction of a Pipe Inspection Robot

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Aleksandar Ristic
Keyword(s):  
Graphical User Interface ◽  
Video Feedback ◽  
Environmental Services ◽  
Iterative Approach ◽  
Purchase Price ◽  
Pipe Inspection ◽  
Inspection Robot ◽  
Video Feed ◽  
Inspection Robots ◽  
And Control

<p>A pipe inspection robot is a device that is inserted into pipes to check for obstructions or damage. These robots are traditionally manufactured offshore, are extremely expensive, and are often not adequately supported in the event of malfunction. This had resulted in Associated Environmental Services Limited, a New Zealand utiliser of this equipment, facing significant periods of down-time as they wait for their robots to be repaired. Recently, they were informed that several of their robots were no longer supported. At their instigation, this project was conceived to redesign the electronics and control system of one of these pipe inspection robots, utilising the existing mechanical platform. Requirements for the robot were that it must operate reliably in confined, dark and wet environments, and provide a human user with a digital video feed of the internal status of the pipes. This robot should, as much as possible, incorporate off-the-shelf components, facilitating cheap, and potentially on-site repair. This project details the redesign and construction of such a robot. It employs three electronic boards integrated with the mechanical components and provides video feedback via a custom graphical user interface. Although at the prototype stage, the electronic redesign has been successful, with a cost of less than a tenth of the original robot purchase price.</p>

Development of Internal Gas Pipe Inspection Robot

1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 371-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshifumi Kawaguchi ◽  
◽  
Itsuo Yoshida ◽  
Keizo Iwao ◽  
Takashi Kikuta
Keyword(s):  
Power Supply ◽  
Communication System ◽  
Fiber Optic ◽  
Pipe Inspection ◽  
Inspection Robot ◽  
Fiber Optic Communication ◽  
Optic Communication ◽  
Inspection Robots ◽  
Dual Mechanism ◽  
Plug Valve

This paper describes a new mechanism and communication system for an in-pipe inspection robot. To date, inspection robots have been limited as to their mobility to turn in a T -shaped pipe or move in a plug valve. The new mechanism based on our dual magnetic wheels overcomes these limitations without difficult controls. This dual mechanism, resembling a crawler, enable the robot to climb over steep obstacles like sleeves and dresser joints. Another drawback of earlier robots is that the friction between the pipes and the cables for communication and power supply makes it difficult for them to move long distances. A fiber-optic communication system can reduce such friction. The spools of the fiber-optic communication cables and batteries are mounted on the robot and the cables are rolled or unrolled when the robot is moving forward or backward, respectively. An experimental inspection robot has been made to confirm the efficiency of the new mechanism. However, the robot fell off a Tshaped pipe when it attempted to turn in the pipe with its position being inadequate. It is difficult to eliminate such inadequacy because the robot might be disturbed while attempting to avoid a plug or because of sensors functioning uncertainly. For that reason, a mechanism which makes a robot twist is adopted. The improved experimental robot successfully turned in a T-shaped pipe even when its position was inadequate.

scholarly journals The Redesign and Implementation of a Reliable Robotic Pipe Inspection System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Stephen Winch
Keyword(s):  
User Interface ◽  
Graphical User Interface ◽  
Functional System ◽  
Environmental Services ◽  
Inspection System ◽  
Circuit Boards ◽  
Pipe Inspection

<p>Robotic units used in pipe inspection are expensive to purchase and repair. Many companies do not offer long term support for the repair and maintenance of their robotic units. Consequently Associated Environmental Services Limited (AES), a Wellington based pipe inspection company approached Victoria University to facilitate the repair of a non-functional system. As a result this Masters project aims to design and implement a reliable pipe inspection system for use by AES. This thesis outlines and discusses the circuit boards and software designed for such a robotic unit. A reliable graphical user interface and internal circuitry for the robot was designed and is also presented.</p>

scholarly journals Development of Virtual Pipe Simulation System for Inspection Robot Design

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 3611-3620
Author(s):  
Satoshi Miura ◽  
Kazuya Kawamura ◽  
Masakatsu Fujie ◽  
Shigeki Sugano ◽  
Tomoyuki Miyashita
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Simulation System ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Robot Design ◽  
Pipe Inspection ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Inspection Robot ◽  
Time Required ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Inspection Robots

AbstractPipe inspection robots have been developed to reduce the cost and time required for gas pipe inspection. However, these robots have been developed using a scrap and build method and are not used in practice. In this paper, we propose a method of virtual pipe inspection simulation to clarify the parameters that are important in increasing the robot's ease of use. This paper presents the results obtained by a feasibility study with regard to pipe simulation. We developed a virtual pipe by simulating eight actual turns of an external gas pipe, and a robot equipped with camera at the tip. In the experiments, three individuals working in the field of gas inspection carried out the operation. We obtained questionnaire, time, and brain activity data. The results revealed various important points that must be considered in practical simulation and robot design. In conclusion, the virtual pipe simulation can be useful in developing the design of a pipe inspection robot.

scholarly journals Development of Inchworm Type Pipe Inspection Robot using Extension Type Flexible Pneumatic Actuators

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 8019-8028
Author(s):  
K. Kusunose ◽  
T. Akagi ◽  
S. Dohta ◽  
W. Kobayashi ◽  
T. Shinohara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frictional Force ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Pipe Inspection ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Inspection Robot ◽  
Propulsion Mechanism ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Inspection Robots ◽  
Plate Type

In the case of damp and wet pipes, pipe inspection robots using pneumatic actuators offer advantages such as no electrical leakage and short circuit. In the previous study, a robot consisting of sliding/bending mechanisms using parallel arranged three extension type flexible pneumatic actuators and two holding mechanisms was successfully developed. In order to use the robot in thinner pipe, a novel and simpler propulsion mechanism utilising the difference of frictional force moving forward and backward are proposed and tested in this work. There are two mechanisms, which are “wriggling type” and “cilia type”. The “wriggling type” mechanism moves forward by wriggling its body while the “cilia type” mechanism moves by using plate type cilia that covered on the mechanism. Both mechanisms have been tested in the pipeline. As a result, it can be confirmed that the cilia type propulsion mechanism can travel in the pipe with accumulated water. It can be found that the mechanism can easily travel through corners while twisting its body by giving bending motion toward any direction.

Developing an adaptable pipe inspection robot using shape memory alloy actuators

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 632-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Hadi ◽  
Azadeh Hassani ◽  
Khalil Alipour ◽  
Reza Askari Moghadam ◽  
Pouya Pourakbarian Niaz
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Pipe Inspection ◽  
Inspection Robot ◽  
Modeling Simulation ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Simulation And Control ◽  
And Control ◽  
Miniature Robot

To detect and repair the faults existing in pipes and narrow ducts in the industry, access to the inside of these pipes is often required. In this article, the conceptual design for a miniature robot for inspecting the inner walls of pipes is presented, such that the proposed robot can operate adaptably and freely in vertical, inclined, and bent paths. The robot utilizes a simple mechanism based on shape memory alloy actuators for adjusting the contact force between the robot and the inner wall of the pipe. Use of shape memory alloys as actuators for the adaptive part will result in a smaller and lighter robot, further increasing its mobility in narrower ducts. Modeling, simulation, and control of the proposed system is conducted and simulation results are validated by performing practical laboratory experiments on a built prototype.

scholarly journals The Redesign and Implementation of a Reliable Robotic Pipe Inspection System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Stephen Winch
Keyword(s):  
User Interface ◽  
Graphical User Interface ◽  
Functional System ◽  
Environmental Services ◽  
Inspection System ◽  
Circuit Boards ◽  
Pipe Inspection

<p>Robotic units used in pipe inspection are expensive to purchase and repair. Many companies do not offer long term support for the repair and maintenance of their robotic units. Consequently Associated Environmental Services Limited (AES), a Wellington based pipe inspection company approached Victoria University to facilitate the repair of a non-functional system. As a result this Masters project aims to design and implement a reliable pipe inspection system for use by AES. This thesis outlines and discusses the circuit boards and software designed for such a robotic unit. A reliable graphical user interface and internal circuitry for the robot was designed and is also presented.</p>

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