Explorer™: Gas pipeline robot design, field test results and future development

Hagen Schempf, George Vradis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Federal government agencies and an industrial industry consortium have funded Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) for the development of Explorer™, a long range, un-tethered, modular inspection robot for the visual inspection of 6" and 8" natural gas distribution system pipelines. The robot can be launched into the pipeline under live conditions utilizing a commercial no-blow system via a specially designed attachment, and can negotiate diameter changes, 45-deg and 90-deg bends and tees, as well as inclined and vertical pieces of the piping network. The modular design of the system allows it to be expanded in the near future to include additional inspection and/or repair tools. The range of the robot is an order of magnitude higher than present state-of-the-art inspection systems and is expected to fundamentally alter the way gas utilities maintain and manage their systems. A prototype system has been built, and has undergone extensive laboratory system testing and field demonstrations in 2004 and 2005. This paper will describe the overall engineering design and functionality of the Explorer™ system, as well as the results of the field-trial data to date.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication1st Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response/Robotic and Remote Systems Topical Meeting
Pages466-471
Number of pages6
StatePublished - 2006
Event1st Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response/Robotic and Remote Systems Topical Meeting - Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Duration: Feb 11 2006Feb 16 2006

Publication series

Name1st Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response/Robotic and Remote Systems Topical Meeting
Volume2006

Other

Other1st Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response/Robotic and Remote Systems Topical Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySalt Lake City, UT
Period2/11/062/16/06

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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