Pipe inspection micro-robot
1102201-168
[DEFINITION]
A robot inserted into a pipe to inspect abnormal sections.
[DESCRIPTION]
Microrobots that move inside pipes to inspect abnormal sections are the
most promising applications of micromachines. Pipe inspection microrobots
are described as follows: they have one or more sensors and travel inside
pipes, find abnormal sections, and specify the abnormality type and its
location. The two travel types under consideration are the floating type,
in which the microrobot travels with the fluid flow inside the pipe, and
the self-locomotion type, in which the microrobot travels by an active
locomotion mechanism. Each of these methods is further divided into cabled
(with a wire for energy supply, communication, etc.) and cableless microrobots.
[References]
(19)
[Related Terms]