Automated pipe inspection robot

Abstract

Automated inspection of the inner surface of a pipe can be achieved by a mobile robot. Pipe inspection is necessary to locate defects due to corrosion and wear while the pipe is transporting fluids. Pipe inspection devices are available for these tasks; they commonly use ultrasonic or magnetic flux variation to detect defects. Says that the magnitude of the costs involved in the development and implementation of these inspection techniques is such that it inhibits their more frequent and widespread use. Posits that the automated pipe inspection robot presented is a proposed cost‐effective alternative solution. The inspection device is a PC‐based design that uses mechatronic principles to ensure a purposeful interaction between the robot and its environment.