Robots Now Inspect Heating Networks in Russian Cities
To ensure uninterrupted heating, Russian utilities are increasingly deploying robots that can examine pipes at speeds of up to 40 meters per hour, identifying defects without the need for shutdowns or digging.
In Irkutsk, a robotic system was used to diagnose the city’s heating networks. The inspection was carried out by Baikal Energy Company, part of the Russian energy holding En+.
The advantage of robotic inspections is that they don’t require lengthy heating shutdowns or excavation above the pipelines.
Once launched into a pipe, the robot delivers a module that detects wear and tear in hard-to-reach sections of the network. Data on pipe conditions is transmitted in real time. The inspection speed reaches up to 40 meters per hour, allowing one robot to cover more than 200 meters of heating lines in a single shift.
Digital diagnostics for housing and utilities are being applied in cities and regions across Russia. Teleinspection systems are surveying pipelines not only in major hubs—such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Irkutsk—but also in smaller towns.
