Trunking, infield and distribution pipelines are fire and explosive objects. For these reasons, up to 40 thousand accidents in infield pipelines occur in Russia every year. 95% of failures are due to internal and external corrosion. High reliability of pipeline systems can be ensured with the help of robots that will conduct inspections of many kilometers long sections.
As for the robots for pipeline diagnostics, which are used now, cannot move in difficult and critical pipe sections due to the "sluggishness" of the wheelbase. According to the young researcher, they also have no directional stability when moving. In addition, the cost of such robot reaches 2.5 million rubles, which is unprofitable for enterprises. Therefore, the developers of the Perm Tech decided to create a simpler device with advanced technological capabilities. The robot will provide high-quality of the technical control of any pipeline section, and it will identify pipe damage and measure the size it has.
A spherical robot with the carrying wheel that are in the shape of hemispheres will be able to determine the configuration features of pipes, find dents, thinning and corrosion formations. The wheels give the device an elliptical shape. Thus, the robot can move without overturning, overcoming difficult areas, for example, inclined pipelines. The rubber spikes on the wheels will help to cross the bottlenecks.