Beca's innovative PIPE-i robot revolutionizes the inspection of hazardous drains, replacing human labor in risky environments and enabling efficient inspection of hard-to-reach areas.
Gutter robot
Innovative development from New Zealand
Engineering solutions company Beca has created a unique six-wheeled robot, PIPE-i. This device is designed to carry out inspections in hazardous drainage systems, which eliminates the risk to human life and health when performing such tasks.
History of the creation of PIPE-i
The development process of PIPE-i took exactly a year - from June 2022 to June 2023. The project began when Beca engineers were asked to survey a badly damaged drain located under a busy highway. Faced with the lack of suitable commercial solutions, the company's specialists decided to create their own robot.
Specifications and features
The PIPE-i prototype has a 3D printed body made from a combination of polycarbonate and carbon fiber. The robot is equipped with six independently suspended wheels, which ensures its high maneuverability. For lighting, four LED panels with a power of 850 lumens are used. The device is equipped with a rotating front camera, lidar and a Leica BLK360 3D scanner, which is located in the rear under a special cover and rises when scanning is necessary.
Control and autonomy
At the moment, PIPE-i is controlled remotely in real time using video feed from the camera. However, the robot is already capable of performing some functions autonomously, for example, determining the distance to objects. The developers plan to introduce artificial intelligence algorithms to increase the level of autonomy in the future commercial version of the device.
Benefits of Using PIPE-i
Operators have the ability to instantly analyze video footage from PIPE-i to identify gutter problems. In addition, they can study a 3D model of the structure generated by the built-in scanner. If necessary, the robot can be additionally equipped with an omnidirectional camera to create panoramic video with 360 degree coverage.
One of the key benefits of the PIPE-i is its adjustable suspension. It allows you to raise the body for optimal scanning or lower it to overcome obstacles in hard-to-reach areas.
Glossary
- Beca is a New Zealand engineering company that developed the PIPE-i robot.
- PIPE-i is a six-wheeled drain inspection robot.
- Leica BLK360 is a model of the 3D scanner used in the PIPE-i robot.
- Lidar is a remote sensing technology used in the robot.
- New Zealand is the country where the developer company Beca is based.
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Discussion of the topic – PIPE-i robot: safe inspection of dangerous drains of the future
Engineering company Beca has developed the six-wheeled PIPE-i robot to safely inspect hazardous drains, replacing humans in risky conditions. The project lasted a year and began with the need to inspect a damaged drain under a busy highway.
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Isabella
Wow, this PIPE-i robot sounds like a real breakthrough in the field of drain inspection! Imagine how many lives he can save by doing dangerous work instead of people. 🤖💧
Hans
I agree, Isabella! What's especially impressive is that they developed it in just a year. I wonder what other applications such technology might find in the future? 🤔
Sophie
I think this is a great example of how innovation is born out of necessity. Beca did not find a ready-made solution and created its own - amazing! And the adjustable suspension is brilliant for working in tight spaces. 👏
Giovanni
Yes, Sophie, you're right! I was also impressed by the technical characteristics. The Leica BLK360 3D scanner and lidar are serious equipment. I wonder what the cost of such a robot is? 💰
Viktor
Again these newfangled things! In my time, the gutters were checked manually, and nothing was done. And now robots, artificial intelligence... Where is the world heading? Soon we will forget how to think!
Isabella
Viktor, I understand your concern, but technology does not replace humans, but helps them. PIPE-i does dangerous work while saving lives. Is this bad? 🤗
Hans
By the way, I was interested in the possibility of using AI in future versions. Imagine how much more efficient inspection will be when a robot can independently analyze data and make decisions! 🧠🤖
Sophie
I absolutely agree with Hans! And I also thought - maybe in the future such robots will be able to not only inspect, but also carry out minor repairs? That would be amazing! 🛠️