Design, construction and demonstration of a robotic platform for the inspection of unpiggable pipelines under live conditions

Fast Facts
Technology and Commercialization
Research Entity:	Northeast Gas Association 1515 Broadway, 43rd Floor New York, NY 10036 New York, NY 10036-8901
COTR:	Robert Smith, Robert.W.Smith @ dot.gov, 202-366-3814
Contract #:	DTRS56-05-T-0002
Project #:	159
Contact Info:	Dr. George Vradis, 212-354-4790, ext. 217; 212-764-7014 fax, 516-298-8427 cell, gvradis @ northeastgas.org
Partners:	Dr. Hagen Schempf, Automatika Inc., 412,968-1022, hagen @ automatika.com
Peer Review	Very Effective (PHP-1-2006, Feb 7-9, 2006)
Peer Review	Very Effective (PHP-2-2007, Mar 27-29, 2007)
Technology Demonstrated?	TBD
Commercialized (in whole/part)?	TBD
Financial and Status Data
Project Status:	Active
Start Fiscal Year:	2005 (12/08/2004)
End Fiscal Year:	2010 (08/31/2010)
PHMSA $$ Budgeted:	$2,493,524.00
$$ Co-Funded:	$3,353,179.00
Total Project Cost:	$5,846,703.00

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Main Objective

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 NDE of the pipeline. The sensor will be developed through a parallel project, which is part of this Consolidated Program.

Public Abstract

This proposed program, in the research area of "Other Pipeline Safety Improvements; In-Line Inspection for Damage and Defects", will design, construct and test a prototype robotic system (TIGRE) for the inspection of unpiggable transmission pipelines. The robot will be designed to be launched and operated under live conditions and will be able to negotiate all obstacles encountered in a pipeline network (such as mitered bends, plug valves, back-to-back in and out of plane 90-deg bends, diameter changes, etc.). It will incorporate a specially designed and engineered MFL sensor and sensor module (to be developed through a parallel effort within the proposed Consolidated R&D Program), also able to negotiate all pipeline obstacles. This program will follow an on-going project focusing on the evaluation, development and testing of a number of technologies critical to the development of such a robotic system. A follow-up phase will be needed to develop the launching equipment and field demonstrate the system. This work will be conducted by a team consisting of NYSEARCH and Automatika Inc. with funding from NYSEARCH, SoCalGas, OTD, PRCI, and the US Department of Transportation, and is part of a Consolidated R&D Program related to pipeline safety. See (Project No 160 and Project No 161)

Quarterly Status Reports

TIGRE Quarterly Progress Report - Public Page