
The inspection of gas transmission mains requires the innovative marriage of a highly adaptable/flexible robotic platform with advanced sensor technologies operating as an autonomous inspection system in a live natural gas environment. Working with New York GAS and the Department of Energy, Foster-Miller has developed and is using a unique robotic system called Pipe Mouse to meet the demanding requirements of gas pipe inspection. Our approach involves the integration of advanced modular technologies to construct a robotic system that has the flexibility to adapt to changes in gas piping.
Our Pipe Mouse is a robotic platform that is train-like in nature and travels through pipes 3.5 to 6.5 in diameter. Both front and rear drive cars propel the train forwards and backwards inside the pipeline. Like a train, the platform includes additional "cars" to carry the required payloads. The cars are used for various purposes including the installation and positioning of sensor modules, the system power supply, data acquisition/storage components, location/position devices and onboard micro-processors/electronics.
Onboard intelligence gives the platform the benefit of an engineer steering the train through complicated pipe geometry. The system includes launching and retrieval stations that are similar to those used for conventional pipe inspection cameras while the Pipe Mouse enables inspection through multiple turns and long distances (up to 2,000 ft.) that can't be achieved with conventional pipe snake mounted cameras.
The Pipe Mouse was built to a strict set of performance criteria appropriate for low-pressure gas distribution networks. It was designed to be highly mobile and agile. Consequently, it has the ability to travel long distances from the entry point; steer down branch lines of pipe tees and crosses; negotiate mitered (90 deg) elbows; navigate in both the horizontal and vertical planes; pass through partial section valves and adapt, by a factor of two, to change in pipe diameter.
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