Pipelines are used extensively to carry natural gas to destinations
throughout the world. Large high-pressure transmission lines may
extend hundreds of miles cross country while smaller,
lower-pressure distribution lines are used to deliver gas to homes
and businesses. In the United States, there are more than
1.1 million miles of natural gas pipelines.
http://www.swri.org/3pubs/ttoday/Winter07/Pipelines.htm
Robot for Working in Small-Diameter Piping
throughout the world. Large high-pressure transmission lines may
extend hundreds of miles cross country while smaller,
lower-pressure distribution lines are used to deliver gas to homes
and businesses. In the United States, there are more than
1.1 million miles of natural gas pipelines.
http://www.swri.org/3pubs/ttoday/Winter07/Pipelines.htm
Robot for Working in Small-Diameter Piping
TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has
developed the world's first miniature inspection robot able to
operate inside piping with a diameter as small as one inch (25mm).
The robot can undertake visual inspections and identify and
collect foreign objects. It is ideal for industrial applications in
such locations as electric power generation plants.
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/1997_02/pr2101.htm
A Hybrid Model-Based Vision System for Autonomous
Navigation of a Sewer Inspection Robot
developed the world's first miniature inspection robot able to
operate inside piping with a diameter as small as one inch (25mm).
The robot can undertake visual inspections and identify and
collect foreign objects. It is ideal for industrial applications in
such locations as electric power generation plants.
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/1997_02/pr2101.htm
A Hybrid Model-Based Vision System for Autonomous
Navigation of a Sewer Inspection Robot
The research project MAKRO is being conducted by four
partners from research and industry and aims at developing
an autonomous robot for surveying of modern concrete sewers.
The task of such a robot will be to collect a video record about
sewer conditions. The multi-segment robot consists of a mobile
base platform, and is equipped with a set of sensors, a light
source, a laser crosshair projector and a camera, it must be
able to drive autonomously through a long system of sewer pipes.
An on-line Hybrid Model Vision-Based System has been
developed at GMD to navigate the MAKRO robot when it moves
along sewer pipes, approaches manhole junction areas, and
proceeds to enter the next pipe. The Vision System comprises
two different algorithms. The first one, called the orientation
algorithm, assesses the robot’s relative orientation with respect
to the pipe axis, in order to guide the robot through a pipe.
The second one, called the 3D interpretation algorithm,
recognizes the end of the current pipe at a manhole entrance
and locates the next pipe opening to move into when the
MAKRO robot is positioned before a manhole area of the sewer.
http://www.ercim.org/publication/Ercim_News/enw42/kolesnik.html
Pipe crawler - robots for video and laser inspection
partners from research and industry and aims at developing
an autonomous robot for surveying of modern concrete sewers.
The task of such a robot will be to collect a video record about
sewer conditions. The multi-segment robot consists of a mobile
base platform, and is equipped with a set of sensors, a light
source, a laser crosshair projector and a camera, it must be
able to drive autonomously through a long system of sewer pipes.
An on-line Hybrid Model Vision-Based System has been
developed at GMD to navigate the MAKRO robot when it moves
along sewer pipes, approaches manhole junction areas, and
proceeds to enter the next pipe. The Vision System comprises
two different algorithms. The first one, called the orientation
algorithm, assesses the robot’s relative orientation with respect
to the pipe axis, in order to guide the robot through a pipe.
The second one, called the 3D interpretation algorithm,
recognizes the end of the current pipe at a manhole entrance
and locates the next pipe opening to move into when the
MAKRO robot is positioned before a manhole area of the sewer.
http://www.ercim.org/publication/Ercim_News/enw42/kolesnik.html
Pipe crawler - robots for video and laser inspection
These flexible robots are well suited for carrying out inspections
on pipe systems, especially those that have a lot of bends, vertical
sections and pipe branches.These robots are mainly used in the
on pipe systems, especially those that have a lot of bends, vertical
sections and pipe branches.These robots are mainly used in the
nuclear power industry, refineries, chemical plants, petrochemical
plants, the offshore industry, gas pipelines, the beverage industry
and all types of pipe lines up to 500m long.Three drive elements
provide a speed of up to 200 m/h in both
horizontal and vertical directions and allow for effortless bend taking
http://www.inspector-systems.com/video_robots.html
horizontal and vertical directions and allow for effortless bend taking
http://www.inspector-systems.com/video_robots.html
