MTC develops robotic rat for pipe inspection

Robotics experts at the MTC said their invention, ‘Ratty the Robot’, could reduce cost and improve efficiency for utility companies as well as reduce human exposure to hazardous environments and prevent pipework leaks.

The tetherless wheeled inspection robot has a laser-based navigation module and, according to the MTC, can carry out tasks in environments which would defeat most robots. 

As the robot can self-drive it reduces the need for a human operator, and has the added advantage of automatically mapping complex pipework and tunnel systems which have built up over many years.

Currently, most advanced inspection work of drainage, sewage and gas supply pipes is carried out by tethered devices managed by operators, which is costly, slow and labour intensive with difficult to reach areas.

“This proof-of-concept robot can travel in confined spaces, inspecting networks while working fully autonomously,” said Dr Mahesh Dissanayake, advanced robotics research engineer at MTC. 

“With technology advancing all the time the next exciting step could be a robot which not only inspects pipework, but is capable of carrying out repairs remotely without having to dig up roads.”