To tackle the challenge of billions of liters of water lost through leaks across hundreds of miles on English and Welsh pipelines, engineers have devised a solution: miniature robots. water pipe robots are going to solve the leaking issues!
By patrolling pipe networks to locate any faults or emerging issues, these robotic advancements are essential in helping maintain such immense infrastructure; indeed Water UK declared that companies were investing greatly in this area as it simply “would be impossible” without them!
The British waterscape underwent some scrutiny recently when Ofwat released a report indicating that several water companies had not adequately funded improvements. In response, Water UK reported the lowest level of leakage since privatization. The challenge is daunting for those tasked with managing an aging infrastructure: hundreds of thousands of kilometers worth of pipe transport vital resources to millions – and this system requires delicate maintenance.
Water companies in England and Wales have responded to the challenge by cutting their leakage rate down 6% over the last yearWith worsening droughts and a cost of living crisis, water conservation is more important than ever.
However, further strides will most likely be necessary if they are going to meet government targets which aim to halve total losses by 2050.
The UK Water Network
The UK water network is vast and complex. Spanning over 300,000 miles with a mixture of materials including cast iron, steel and plastic pipes – there’s an impressive 217,000 miles in England & Wales alone! With the average household using 350 liters daily according to Energy Saving Trust estimates – that’s quite an infrastructure undertaking.
Using robotics Pipebots
At the University of Sheffield’s ICAIR, trials are underway on a groundbreaking new application in underground robotics: pipebots. These micro-machines bring Artificial Intelligence to previously inaccessible pipes and use their cameras – as eyes! – to search for cracks or weaknesses that could lead to leaks down the line. By partnering with industry insiders, these techy patrollers offer an innovative way forward in efficient water network maintenance.
Exploring uncharted territory, Professor Netta Cohen of the University of Leeds is working on advanced artificial intelligence technology involving a ‘mother’ robot and miniature robots that are able to communicate with each other. By leveraging sound or Wi-Fi signals in lieu of GPS tracking underground, they will navigate through pipes while collecting data along their journey before returning to be collected by the mother bot. With this society-based system across kilometers upon kilometers of pipe networks globally, she aims for groundbreaking discoveries like never seen before.
