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Inspection robot to the rescue |
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At the end of June, SINTEF announced the development of a snake-shaped pipe inspection robot, which has wheels and will be able to climb, navigate intersections, and be easily located in the pipe system.
The robot, which has yet to be named, will be able to move in pipes of a variety of diameters - as small as 20 cm.
When complete, the robot will have a vision-guided navigation system, and will also be able to navigate and move forward on its own, as it will contain a built-in path description detailing its tasks. Horizontally, the robot will roll, while vertically, it will either twist up like a corkscrew or brace itself against either side of the pipe and roll upwards.
Eventual applications will include locating leakage points, checking the condition of oil and gas pipes, and cleaning ventilation systems. The prototype should be in the demonstration phase by 2009.
www.sintef.no
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