'Endoscopy' with underground plastic equipment

Exploration equipment can detect failures to promptly repair in order to limit flooding in the rainy season.

This useful device is from Nguyen Anh Quang and Tran Thi Minh Chau (Nguyen Hue High School, Hue City, Thua Thien-Hue).

Sharing ideas, Mr. Quang said, in the maintenance of sewer pipes, it is difficult for urban staff to detect and find out the cause of the failure. The reason is partly because the size of the sewer is too small to move into the sewer.

Although many modern robots have been discovered in the world, the price is relatively high.'Therefore, our group has researched and manufactured sewer exploration equipment with low cost. This device can be brought into the sewer to help visualize the inside to help employees find a failure and perform sewer maintenance work , 'Quang said.

Driver interface on the phone screen.(Photo: Nhat Tuan).

Manufacturing materials are mostly plastic, with the advantage that cheap prices are not corroded when exposed to moisture and chemicals.

According to the investigation, the equipment can be moved under the sewer with 6 wheels, can move forward or turn left, turn right flexibly. The device is also equipped with propeller to move when the drain is flooded. In particular, the device can be controlled directly by smartphone via Bluetooth wave.

Most materials are plastic with the advantage of not being corroded when exposed to moisture.(Photo: Nhat Tuan).

The device is equipped with a camera to record images of areas where the device passes through, then transmit data through a wireless connection to the phone for observation.

'Users can put the device into the end of the sewer, then use the driver to run the device deep into the sewer. In the process, the camera records images inside the sewer and transmits it to the user to observe. Thus, users quickly assess the status of the sewer section and take remedial measures when necessary , 'Anh Quang said.

Cheap underground sewer exploration equipment of two high school students (Photo: Nhat Tuan).

In the near future, the group will continue to research and replace engines with water-resistant engines, raise the chassis to improve the ability to overcome obstacles or move through concave holes.

'I believe that my idea can be useful for improving the effectiveness of sewer maintenance. From there, it is possible to limit sewer failure and limit flooding in the rainy season , 'added Minh Chau.

Talking to the Discovery Magazine, teacher Tran Thien Lan - instructor, said the two children enjoyed studying science and technology. The implementation of the project helps children to step into the scientific world, maintaining their passion for research. Their topic has provided a simple design process for making a hand-controlled device that can be explored in a sewer.

Nguyen Anh Quang received the prize at the Thua Thien Hue Children's Youth Competition in 2018. (Photo: Nhat Tuan).

'Currently, the device can be controlled to go deep inside, recording the image transmitted out, in case the device has a problem, there is a safety belt pulled out. After perfecting the water resistance and control wave changes, it is completely capable of applying and mass-producing , 'Lan shared.