By : Inspenet, Nov 22, 2022
Scientists Netta Cohen and Thanh Luan Nguyen of the University of Leeds in the UK have developed a tiny robot that can independently navigate inside pipe networks, including the narrowest sections of them, and transmit images of damage or obstructions to operators, with greater efficiency than traditional systems.
The new robot model is called Joey and he is capable of exploring real pipe networks completely on his own. Joey is the first robot of its kind that can navigate pipes as narrow as 7.5 centimeters in diameter under its own power. Weighing just 70 grams, the robot is the size of the palm of your hand.
The interior of the water distribution pipes and those that carry wastewater to the sewage network is not only difficult to access, but also constitutes a very hostile environment for a robot. The small size that robots must have to move through such narrow places poses the challenge of making the robots efficient enough with only very simple motors, tiny sensors and computers, and batteries that, despite being equally tiny, can power the robot. robot for a long enough time.
Joey’s locomotion is based on structures definable as “leg-wheels”, manufactured by 3D printing, which roll along smooth sections and stride over small obstacles.
The robot is equipped with a series of low consumption sensors that measure its distance to walls, corners and crossings between pipes. It also has navigation tools, a microphone, a camera and “spotlights” to film damage or obstructions in the pipe network and save the images.
To test Joey’s ability to navigate muddy or slippery pipes, they also added sand and liquid dishwashing detergent to the inside of the pipes. The robot met this challenge again successfully.
Cohen and his colleagues discuss the technical details of their new robot in the academic journal Frontiers in Robotics and AI, under the title “Autonomous control for miniaturized mobile robots in unknown pipe networks.”
Amazings NCYT source : https://noticiasdelaciencia.com/art/45459/nuevo-y-avanzado-minirrobot-para-trabajar-dentro-de-tuberias
Photo : TL Nguyen, A Blight, A Pickering, A Barber, GH Jackson-Mills, JH Boyle, R Richardson, M Dogar, N Cohen
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