A team of cybernetic and optical measurement scientists at SINTEF are developing an intelligent inspection robot on wheels that will be able to climb, navigate intersections, and at any given time know its location in the pipe system.

SINTEF cybernetics scientist Erik Kyrkjebø, explained: “Given our previous work on snake robots, we have become good at controlling mechanisms that are linked.

“W now want to develop a robot with 10 – 11 joint modules, each with an identical pair of wheels cast in plastic. The weight must be well distributed between the joints. For example, can we put the camera and accelerator motor in two different joint modules? The robot will function as a train when operating horizontally. Such robots already exist, but we want to develop a robot that can climb too.”

The scientists have developed several versions of the pipe inspection robot and tested various different solutions in order to make the new robot mobile and compact.

The robot will be able to move in pipes of various diameters down to 20cm.

Currently in the design stage, scientists hope to test two of the 11 joint modules to verify the concept, and hope to demonstrate a prototype model by the end of the year.