Pipe Health Monitoring Robot (PHMR)

The project aims at developing a pipe health monitoring system based on smart sensors which can be transported inside compressed gas pipes with the help of a conduit crawler robot to determine the extent of anomalies present in the pipeline. The pipe health monitoring system will comprise a sensor network for anomalies detection, a micro-controller for processing the data from various sensor units and a storage unit to store the processed data, and an autonomous platform or robot, to carry these components inside the pipeline.

Compressed Air 8-inch Pipeline Test Bed
Compressed Air 8-inch Pipeline Test Bed

The project was divided into various phases each with specific objectives. The first phase focused on designing a new wheel assembly, optimising sensor parameters, data acquisition and pipe testbed automation. The second phase focused on the robot design, GMR sensor, optimizing of optoelectronic sensor and parameter extraction. The third phase focused on the final assembly of PHMR, design of touch probe, calibration of optoelectronic sensor and anomaly classification. The fourth phase focuses on defect position identification, sensor mounting, calibration of touch probe and user interface development. The final two phases involved testing the robot, communication system and final refinement.

Passive speed control system for Pipeline Health Monitoring Robot (PHMR)
Passive speed control system for Pipeline Health Monitoring Robot (PHMR)

Technical Session | ISRIAH 2022 | IIT Kanpur - Waseda University

International Symposium on Robotics in Industry, Agriculture and Healthcare (ISRIAH - 2022)

Peer-reviewed Article

(2021). An innovative approach towards defect detection and localization in gas pipelines using integrated in-line inspection methods. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering.

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Patent

(2023). An innovative method and apparatus for speed control of pipe health monitoring robot during gas pipeline inspection. Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems XVII.

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International Conference

(2023). Design and development of novel rotary actuation system based on shape memory alloy springs driven mechanism arranged in bipennate muscle architecture. Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems XVII.

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