Russia Develops a Robot Chimney Sweep to Keep Utility Networks in Order
Russian scientists have developed a robotic system capable of moving independently inside pipelines.
Researchers at Perm Polytechnic University, together with colleagues from Volgograd State Agrarian University, have developed a robot designed to operate inside pipes with diameters ranging from 500 to 1,400 millimeters. The device can navigate bends of up to 90 degrees without stopping or getting stuck, a capability that has long been a serious technical challenge for machines of this type.
Such robots are especially in demand in municipal utilities, water supply and heating networks, as well as in oil and chemical pipelines. Much of this infrastructure is heavily worn and requires regular inspection and maintenance. Existing robotic systems could operate only in pipes of a strictly fixed size, and their designs did not allow movement through pipelines with sharp bends.
Gear-Based Couplings
The key feature of the new robot is a unique articulated mechanism based on gear couplings. It allows the device to expand and adapt to the internal diameter of a pipe while in motion. Due to its design, the robot can move without manual readjustment. It is also capable of climbing vertical pipeline sections, significantly expanding its range of applications.
Universal pipeline robots make network maintenance faster, less disruptive, and more cost-effective. The number of emergency shutdowns is expected to decrease, while repair crews will no longer have to work in freezing winter conditions or extreme summer heat when responding to unexpected failures.
