The Pipeline Explorer
This little fellow explores a different kind of environment - natural gas pipelines.
Introducing....
The Pipeline Explorer!
The battery powered remote-controlled Explorer can perform long ranged inspections of gas pipelines, conveying images back to the operator via a wireless link.
The Explorer's architecture consists of a seven segment body. Specially designed joints allows the robot to manuever itself in any direction it needs within the pipe. The CPU unit and electronics are protected in purged and pressurized housings.
The locomotor module houses a mini 190 degree field-of-view camera, equipped with lenses and lighting. It also houses 3 retractable legs, which are equipped with custom molded driving wheels. The robot can reach cruising speeds of 4 inches per second.
Many pipelines over the world are aging, and increasing checks are needed to detect water intrusions and other defects. The Explorer system can access thousands of feet of pipeline from a single excavation, making it far superior to any other conventional methods used in terms of speed and costs.
The Explorer won an R&D Magazine Top 100 award in 2006 for being one of the year’s most original and innovative technological developments.
References:
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=732
http://www.rec.ri.cmu.edu/projects/explorer/
http://www.rec.ri.cmu.edu/projects/explorer/application/index.htm
Huang Zhengyang
U037752U
Introducing....
The Pipeline Explorer!
The battery powered remote-controlled Explorer can perform long ranged inspections of gas pipelines, conveying images back to the operator via a wireless link.
The Explorer's architecture consists of a seven segment body. Specially designed joints allows the robot to manuever itself in any direction it needs within the pipe. The CPU unit and electronics are protected in purged and pressurized housings.
The locomotor module houses a mini 190 degree field-of-view camera, equipped with lenses and lighting. It also houses 3 retractable legs, which are equipped with custom molded driving wheels. The robot can reach cruising speeds of 4 inches per second.
Many pipelines over the world are aging, and increasing checks are needed to detect water intrusions and other defects. The Explorer system can access thousands of feet of pipeline from a single excavation, making it far superior to any other conventional methods used in terms of speed and costs.
The Explorer won an R&D Magazine Top 100 award in 2006 for being one of the year’s most original and innovative technological developments.
References:
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=732
http://www.rec.ri.cmu.edu/projects/explorer/
http://www.rec.ri.cmu.edu/projects/explorer/application/index.htm
Huang Zhengyang
U037752U
