Autonomous robots deliver water network efficiencies
A key role of public utilities across Europe is to ensure the smooth and safe delivery of water services. Repairing or replacing ageing underground pipes is a constant concern, as leaks and breakages can impact thousands of users. Carrying this work out in a targeted and timely manner can help to achieve cost savings at a time when many budgets are badly stretched. Facilitating this has been the aim of French company Acwa Robotics(opens in new window). The founders realised that utilities were often making complex and expensive decisions blind, as they had no way of really knowing the actual condition of pipes slated to be replaced. “Pipe breakages can lead to serious disruptions in service,” notes CleanWaterPathfinder(opens in new window) project coordinator Jean-François Guiderdoni from Acwa Robotics. “At the same time, it can cost between EUR 200 000 and EUR 1 million to replace 1 km of pipe – and there are millions of kilometres of pipes across Europe.”
Robust miniature autonomous robots
Acwa Robotics focused on identifying cost-effective and minimally invasive ways of gathering information on the condition of water pipes. The solution they landed on was to build robust miniature autonomous robots that could be sent into water networks to collect data. “We realised that we needed something inside the pipe network itself that wouldn’t overly disrupt services,” says Guiderdoni. “These robots also needed to be able to operate in water, travel distances of several kilometres and work independently.” The prototype solution they came up with was a kind of cylinder about a metre long, that could be sent into main water pipes. The cylinder was equipped with LEDs and cameras at the front, along with sensors to detect the residual thickness of pipes using ultrasound and a separate acoustic element to find leaks.
Helping to schedule specific repairs
The CleanWaterPathfinder project, supported by the European Innovation Council(opens in new window), was launched to help the company fine-tune its technology and bring the innovation to market. “The aim was to move from prototype to something that utilities would buy,” remarks Guiderdoni. To do this, the project helped Acwa Robotics to improve the quality of data collected, extend the distance the robot was able to travel, and reduce the overall size of the device to around 70 cm. The company worked with a number of utilities across France to trial the device in real-world settings, including in the city of Marseilles. “We also worked with private operator Suez in the city of Dunkirk, as well as in the Vendée region in north-west France,” adds Guiderdoni. “ This was a really interesting project, as over 3 km of pipe was scheduled to be replaced at a cost of around EUR 1.1 million. Using our robot, we were able to show that specific repairs were needed rather than complete renewal, leading to huge cost savings.”
Building trust with target users
The CleanWaterPathfinder project helped Acwa to demonstrate the efficacy of its solution and build trust with target users. For utilities, ‘seeing’ the condition of major pipe networks means being able to schedule targeted repairs and better allocate resources. Following project competition, the device is being used by key French utilities in cities such as Marseilles, Lyon and Lille. The company is also looking to work with industrial customers such as EDF and Suez.
