Field missions

Robotic solutions for controlling your drinking water network

Field missions
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ACWA ROBOTICS

Field missions

It’s all about fieldwork

Pipe geolocation and asset diagnosis in Bordeaux, France

Acwa Robotics team helped Bordeaux Métropole's Régie de l'Eau to inspect a drinking water pipe, as part of the 35 million euro 'Aqua Loan' the water utility signed with 'Banque des Territoires', a french public institution financing regional projects.

We mobilized our Pathfinder robot on a 250 mm-diameter ductile cast-iron pipe, for a 400-meter round-trip mission, under pressure of 3 to 5 bars, maintaining strict monitoring of water quality via continuous checks.

The mission enabled us to collect HD images of the inside of the pipe, thanks to our on-board camera module located at the front of the robot. The acoustic analysis carried out at the same time confirmed the integrity of the structure. The data collected was then rendered in the form of a digital twin, which can be integrated into the Régie's GIS system, to provide a better understanding of the assets and help prioritize investments.
Collected data
This procedure enabled us to precisely reconstruct the trajectory of the pipe and capture HD images to document its condition. Additionaly, residual thickness measurements were taken along the route, to identify any areas of corrosion or even wear.
 
These analyses provided a comprehensive and reliable assessment of the pipe's overall condition.
Diagnosis of a pipeline in Dunkirk, France
Last October, Pathfinder successfully completed its first mission in Dunkirk in collaboration with SUEZ, Eau du Dunkerquois and supported by the Artois-Picardie Water Agency.
Mission conditions
Pathfinder assessed a 250mm diameter, 520-meter-long ductile iron pipeline with a 2-meter drop and two 45° elbows.
 
The inspection was carried out in a loaded pipeline, under a pressure of 5 bar and with a variable flow rate.

At the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022, we carried out a first series of ‘field’ experiments with the help of the Bastia water board, Acqua Publica, in France.
An advanced prototype of the Pathfinder was used.
 
Experimental conditions
The pipe inspected was made of ductile cast iron, with a nominal diameter of 250 mm. The robot was introduced through a specially designed entry point.

During its progress, the robot collected several types of data: precise measurement of the internal diameter, HD images for visual assessment of the condition of the pipe, as well as the calculation of the actual route of the network.

With the release of the Pathfinder pre-production model, Acwa will be deploying a long series of pilots in fully operational pipe sections.

If you are a utility or private operator and would like to find out more about the condition of your pipes, contact us!

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