EU developed robots specializing in tunnel testing

The European Union's ROBINSPECT program is aiming to develop a tunneling robot system that aims to achieve faster, more accurate human targets, and secure transport.

The center of the robot system is a compact, remotely driven, semi-automatic vehicle.

In this car there is a high rise, mounted sensors including camera recording, ultrasonic sensor crack detection, powerful lights.

Photo: Gizmag

The robot will move along the length of the underground track. Because of its compact size, robots do not interfere with traffic. Along the pipeline, it scans, detects cracks, construction errors such as rust rust, corrosion marks, the condition of the joints durability.

The robot moves at a speed of one meter per second, and the computer sets up a 2D image of the 'one inch' rough concrete sheet. If the problem is detected, the robot will describe the 3D image in more detail. Ultrasonic and laser beams will also be used to accurately determine the width and depth of the cracks.

Tunnel centimeters data is accessed through the Traffic Inspector's online database, which has a maintenance plan.

A ROBINSPECT prototype is expected to be completed by 2014. Hopefully ROBINSPECT will apply to the London Underground , the Egnatia tunnel in Greece, and some tunnels in Switzerland.