Design, Construction and Demonstration of a Robotic Platform for the Inspection of Unpiggable Pipelines Under Live Conditions

The objective of the proposed project (part of a three project Consolidated R&D Program) is to develop a robotic platform (TIGRE) that will allow the inspection of presently unpiggable transmission pipelines. The platform, which is based on a locomotor developed for another robotic application in gas pipelines (Explorer; developed for visual inspection of distribution mains), will be able to propel itself independently of flow conditions, and will be able to negotiate all obstacles encountered in a pipeline, such as mitered bends and plug valves. The robot will be powered by batteries, which will have the capability of being recharged during operation by extracting energy from the gas flow. The operator will have live control of the robot using two-way through-the-pipe wireless communication, thus eliminating the need for any tether. The platform will be equipped with a segmented MFL sensor, also able to negotiate all pipeline obstacles, for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of the pipeline. The sensor will be developed through a parallel project, which is part of this Consolidated Program.

• Record URL:
  http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/prjHome.rdm?prj=159
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Program Information: Pipeline Safety Research, Pipeline Safety

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $4160317.00
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRS56-05-T-0002

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

  U.S. Department of Transportation
  East Building, 2nd Floor 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Smith, Robert

• Performing Organizations:

  Northeast Gas Association

  ,    
• Principal Investigators:

  Vradis, George

• Start Date: 20041208
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20110515
• Source Data: RiP Project 35239

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Gas pipelines; Inspection; Live loads; Nondestructive tests; Pipe flow; Robotics
• Subject Areas: Construction; Maintenance and Preservation; Pipelines;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01492458
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: DTRS56-05-T-0002
• Files: RIP
• Created Date: Sep 10 2013 1:00AM