Everything You Need to Know about Pipe Inspection Robots
It is a well known fact that pipeline inspection is not the cleanest of jobs. Pipeline inspectors are often required to work in conditions that are unpleasant to say the least. In most instances, these workspaces are hot, dark, and extremely cramped. Luckily, however, the job has now been made easier with the advent of certain modern tools and technologies, and pipe inspections robots are one of them.
The introduction of robots has made a significant positive impact on how pipe inspections are carried out. These tiny devices allow operators to carry out pipeline inspections safely and alleviate the dirty work and legwork involved in the process.
Let us now take a look at how these devices operate and the advantages of using them.
What is a pipe inspection robot?
A pipe inspection robot may be defined as a device that can be inserted into pipelines for the purpose of checking for damage or obstructions. Pipeline inspection robotic systems comprise of a camera for monitoring and a motor for driving the unit. These systems are generally small and battery operated, and can be fully submerged and easily controlled.
Pipelines used for transporting fluids require regular inspections so that the defects caused by wear and defects can be located. This application of pipe inspection robots is particularly important for underground pipelines. In addition to eliminating the human factor from this dangerous work, they also make it easier to inspect pipelines that are located in inaccessible environments. These robots perform pipeline inspections with greater accuracy with no labour cost, and provide higher reliability compared to human operators.
Advantages over Human Inspection
It has already been mentioned that inspection robots make pipeline inspections safer for the human operators by taking care of situations that could well be perilous for them. However, this is just one of many reasons to invest in a pipe inspection robot.
Inspection of a pipeline often requires a human inspector to spend a considerable amount of time inside the danger zone. Naturally, this increases the likelihood of injury or other undesirable outcomes. This risk can be completely eliminated by using CCTV crawler robots because these systems can safely remain inside a pipeline for much longer durations.
With an inspection robot, the workers have a clear idea of when and where they should start working, without wasting any time to investigate the issue. The time of set-up also gets shortened because inspection robots can be deployed from anywhere. This means that inspectors can start investigating the issues within just a few minutes. Job completion times also shorten because the team can get on with their work in time.
Flexibility in terms of deployment is yet another benefit of using pipeline inspection robots. The devices available these days are easily portable, and are suitable for a wide spectrum of working conditions. They can be deployed inside different pipeline materials and can travel very deep underwater.
At Austeck, we are one of the most trusted names in Australia for pipeline inspection and rehabilitation. Please contact our confined space robotics experts to find out more about pipe inspection robots.