Intelligent Pipeline Inspection Using Modularized Autonomous System

This project is to develop a conceptual protocol of a mobile corrosion inspection tool which can be integrated with an autonomous crawler robot, named Smart-Spider V2, for diverse pipeline corrosion inspection. The ultimate objective is to propose a cost-effectively modularized solution to autonomous corrosion inspection of pipelines by deploying a set of these robotic systems equipped with full-angle corrosion inspection strategy. Finally, a full-view 3D corrosion map of the pipelines’ conditions can be constructed based on post data processing. This type of mobile inspection system equips with a flexible-leg mechanism which can automatically adapt the mobile system to reach and inspect different diameters of pipelines that can be difficult by conventional intelligent pigging systems used in oil & gas pipelines. The locomotive of the mobile inspection system - SmartSpider V2 and the carriage of the train – inspection tool both are designed and developed as autonomous system which are free from umbilicals, and have their own microcontrollers and power supplies, thereby they can be arranged as independent modules.