- Miniature robots that can find leaky water pipes autonomously without the need to dig up roads have been developed by University of Sheffield researchers
- 'Pipebots' can explore water pipes to check for cracks and faults - identifying potential issues before they become a problem
- Technology could revolutionise how the UK's ageing water infrastructure is managed and help save some of the three billion litres of water that is lost through leaks every day in England and Wales alone
- Utility street works cost the UK economy at least £4 billion per year and can cause disruption to businesses and residents
- The UK's water network dates back to the Victorian era and totals around 350,000 km in length
Micro-robots that can inspect water pipes, diagnose cracks and fix them autonomously - reducing leaks and avoiding expensive excavation work - have been developed by a team of engineers led by the University of Sheffield.
The tiny robots, called Pipebots, could revolutionise how water infrastructure is managed and help to save some of the three billion litres of water that is lost through leaky pipes everyday day in England and Wales.
With a total length of around 350,000 km, the UK's water network dates back to the Victorian era. As the underground infrastructure is ageing, cracks and faults are causing water to be continuously leaked - at a rate that is enough to fill 1,200 Olympic swimming pools.
The smallest leaks can cause significant problems. Currently, the only way for human workers to pinpoint the flaw is by digging and locating a leak in the maze of pipes. This can take days of searching, resulting in high costs and road closures that affect businesses and residents nearby. Utility street works cost the UK economy at least £4 billion per year and can cause disruption to businesses and residents.
To tackle this, researchers from the University of Sheffield's School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, in collaboration with the universities of Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds, have developed a range of miniature robots with new sensors that can travel through pipes and check for defects autonomously.
The smallest robot measures 40mm wide - similar to the size of a toy car. The bots are equipped with tiny, high-spec acoustic sensors and cameras, which enable them to navigate and detect faults freely.
