Moscow Deploys High-Tech Inspection Robots for City Utilities
The new sonar-equipped system can scan underwater collectors, detect hidden defects, and help prevent costly urban infrastructure failures.
Moscow’s water utility, Mosvodokanal, has begun using a state-of-the-art robotic teleinspection complex to monitor the condition of the capital’s main pipeline networks.
The innovation targets one of the most pressing challenges in urban management. The state of underground sewer and water systems directly affects not only service quality for residents but also environmental safety. By spotting cracks, blockages, and other defects early, the system helps prevent accidents that could cause serious social and economic fallout.
Experts describe the rollout as a major step in modernizing Russia’s urban infrastructure—part of a global trend toward robotics and remote monitoring for managing critical systems.
The new platform can rapidly inspect tunnels ranging from 0.5 to 4.9 meters in diameter, and even up to six meters if submerged. It can cover distances of up to one kilometer in a single pass, twice the range of previous models, moving at speeds of up to 30 meters per minute.
Its key innovation is a circular acoustic sonar capable of a full rotation in less than a second. This doesn’t just scan tunnel walls—it accurately measures sediment and sludge volume hidden beneath wastewater.
The system then generates detailed graphs and reports, giving engineers the data they need to plan repairs or preventive maintenance. Officials say the technology will significantly increase the reliability of Moscow’s water supply and sewage infrastructure.
