Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: suren on January 05, 2007, 03:46:12 PM

Title: sensors for a pipeline crawler
Post by: suren on January 05, 2007, 03:46:12 PM

hi,
i am designing a pipeline inspector robo that moves ainside a pipeline and detects
any mechanical damage,pipe thickness,corrosion etc.
i absolutely have no idea what type of sensors to use for this and integrating them into a circuit.

Title: Re: sensors for a pipeline crawler
Post by: JesseWelling on January 05, 2007, 04:49:33 PM

I'm guessing this would be teleopreated?
I'd put a camera on it. one that looks at the side and can be rotated in a ring around the robot.
So move forward, scan, move forward, scan. for faster coverage you could use 2 cameras pretty easily.

as for the other stuff..... ???

Title: Re: sensors for a pipeline crawler
Post by: Admin on January 05, 2007, 08:47:20 PM

pipeline machines have been around for a century, and robotic pipe inspectors for half a century.

They are called 'smart pigs.'

"Pigs use several nondestructive testing methods to perform the inspections. Most pigs use a magnetic flux leakage method but some also use ultrasound to perform the inspections."

Utilizing a Smarter ‘Pig’
http://www.enewsbuilder.net/aopl/e_article000530939.cfm

Making the "Smart Pig" Smarter
http://www.swri.org/3pubs/ttoday/fall02/SmartPig.htm

there is huge money in this technology, because oil companies need them to function  :P
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0808-34.htm

here are some neat looking pipeline inspecting robots with designs and descriptions
http://www-robot.mes.titech.ac.jp/robot/wheeled/thes/thes_e.html
http://www.ndt-ed.org/AboutNDT/SelectedApplications/PipelineInspection/PipelineInspection.htm

and pipeline inspection legal issues, if interested:
http://www.house.gov/inslee/issues/pipeline/testimony.html