Pipe Robot

Dear Roy Hammy,

Ummmm, I hate to break the news to you and your friend, but pipeline robots have been around in use for well over 20 decades. I've had the chance many times in the past 30 or so years to hire the services of pipeline inspection companies that utilize pipeline inspection robots armed with TV CCD and were tracked for use in water mains, storm sewers, and sanitary sewers. I'm sure that the gas, oil, and chemical pipeline engineers and their respective companies/clients utilize basically the same sort of equipment but with added electrical safeguards to prevent electrical and static discharges.

So, what's so different about your friend's gizmo?

According to his and some of my research we have not found a system that gives continuous measurements of 360 degree, a distortion free camera view 360 degree for starters. We developed this unit at the request of a customer(water and sewer inspection) based on his needs that could not be fulfilled with anything he could find on the market. This customer is very satisfied with the first unit. What we are looking for are specific needs that we may not be aware of since we are not on site and not aware of problems that exist or any suggested remedy. We have in mind a system of installing a plastic patch for some systems for an example. Appreciate your comments.

Thats interesting! 200 years of Pipeline Robots. Are you writing this 150 years in the future???

Hello,

I am aware of three 360degree continuous monitoring camera systems for sewer lines available in Australia, sso you will be competing with current technology. The sort of things that will make yours more "attractive" might include the following features.

Inclinometer:- To measure the slope of incline of the pipe so that the actual installed condition can be verified for ability to properly drain.

Gas monitoring:- Especially SO2 and the other gasses expected to normally be inside sewer pipes.

Penetration monitoring:- A small probe (Like a dentists probe) to verify the depth and width of cracks found during the camera review. Most current systems can see the cracks, but cannot confirm whether they are surface craze or actual breaks.

You really seem to have one marketing advantage and that is the ability to work without an attached cord. Thus you could progress beyond a valve, have the valve closed and then have vacuum applied to the pipe to detect and quantify "infiltration" leaks from groundwater. This "cordless" ability seems to be your marketing advantage rather than the camera.

Thanks much I will pass this on.

Currently there are many options available for this type of work. The problem you are facing is cost. As for repair, there are many cheap systems already on the market. Some of these systems use an epoxy patch which coats the patch from the inside then turns the patch inside out while applying an inflatable bladder to pressurize the patch while curing. They also have systems which do this to entire pipes. Where you might find an advantage is if your bot carried drop off relay bots to extend its wireless capabilities. It is like they say, there is nothing new under the sun. If you really want to know the capabilities of current systems, visit a major (commercial, industrial, residential, municipal) plumbing/pipeline contractor in a major city. For instance Roto Rooter in Chattanooga has some of the most advanced systems available. Hope this helps....

I would add extra driven wheels on extending legs at 120° angles relative to the main driving wheels (to press the robots main wheels on the floor), with:-

a) large amount of sprung movenet and

b) easily extendable for larger pipe diameters.

This would allow semi or fully vertical pipe to be climbed up or down.

I would also add a cord reel to allow "helping" the robot back up if required. This could even be a driven roll on the robot, or just a "reel out" with locking on command or somply a reel at the opening, naturally fixed so that the "bitter" end cannot "escape" into the pipe.....

Intersting certainly but does it work only in straight pipe?

Lots of interesting posts about this, although as is intimated most of these things exist already - perhaps your colleagues have developed a less costly unit.

also in non sewer applications I imagine the client wondering how do you get it back if the power fails ??

This unit will come home on it's own if it looses signal for preprogrammed time and he has made his own special program for some other functions. My part is in the marketing therefor the interest in uses outside the mainstream. The next generation will transverse curves however this unit having been built to specifications for a customer does not.Also the fact that corners may disrupt the wireless aspect. There is no doubt based on the prices researched that we will be considerably lower in price with no sacrifice in quality as matter of fact it should have higher level of electronics having latest designs. I have also suggested a tether just in case of an electrical failure as a second failsafe. I do appreciate everyone that has made suggestions.

Roy

Curves will most certainly make an impact on wifi as will interference from other sources

certainly be interested in learning more but industrially certainly many issues before such devices are widely accepted

Roy, how does this compare to the RedZone Solo? (www.redzone.com) It too operates without a communications line and captures 360 degree data. I would be interested in discussing/seeing your solution. Do you have contact info or a website?

No web site at this time however if you wish to contact me directly I will see if my associate wishes to communicate. You may contact me through this web site of mine www.123brakes.com.

Just a thought, I was reading the other day on "Make" magazines site where this 18 year old kid developed an extremely low band communications system for cavers. He made the deepest transmittion in history. If I remember correctly he transmitted to a depth of three kilometers....this is exactly the type of transmitter you need if you want to develop beyond current systems capabilities....sorry I cannot remember the exact link, but if you go to their site I am sure you can find it...hope this helps...by the way, you owe all of us 1% of future profits for our input. Where else can you hire a "brain trust" so cheap.....

Great I will try to look it up and pass it on.