I-Corps: Autonomous Aquabots for Water Main Inspections

I-Corps：用于水管检查的自主 Aquabot

• 批准号: 2345478
• 负责人: Xiaobo Tan
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: Michigan State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-01-15 至 2024-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2345478&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; Autonomous; Aquabots; Water; Main

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of an Autonomous Underwater Robotics (AUR) system designed to enhance the management and sustainability of municipal drinking water infrastructure. By providing detailed inspection data for underground water pipe networks, the AUR system addresses the need for efficient, proactive maintenance strategies in the face of aging drinking water infrastructure. The commercial viability of the project is underscored by the potential to reduce the economic burden of water loss, which is estimated at $7.6 billion annually due to leaks, and $2.6 billion for emergency repairs. With a scalable solution that can locate leaks and assess pipe conditions before critical failures occur, this technology stands to support asset management within municipalities and water authorities, enabling smarter, data-driven decisions. The impact of the commercialized AUR technology can extend beyond the drinking water space to potentially include oil pipelines and pressurized sewer systems.This I-Corps project is based on the development of Autonomous Underwater Robot (AUR) technology that operates at scale in municipal water systems. The AUR system is adapted from gliding robotic fish, an underwater robot that combines features of robotic fish and an underwater glider to achieve high maneuverability and long-duration operations for environmental monitoring. By efficiently detecting leaks, AURs enable water operators to pinpoint areas requiring immediate repair. This proactive approach could help conserve water and save costs for municipalities. Additionally, the AUR’s capability to assess pipe thickness could aid in the preventative maintenance of thinning water mains and the resulting water loss and service disruptions for the community. The technology also enables the AUR to stay within the water pipe system beyond a hydrant-to-hydrant inspection segment, which allows for drinking water service to remain active during inspection and requires fewer regulatory approvals. Long-distance pipe inspections could reduce inspection related costs 70 – 80%, allowing municipalities to manage drinking water assets and transfer cost savings to other capital projects.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这个I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一个自主水下机器人（AUR）系统，旨在加强城市饮用水基础设施的管理和可持续性。通过提供地下水管网的详细检测数据，AUR系统满足了在饮用水基础设施老化的情况下对高效、主动维护策略的需求。该项目的商业可行性突出体现在有可能减少水资源损失的经济负担，据估计，每年因漏水造成的损失为76亿美元，紧急维修费用为26亿美元。通过可扩展的解决方案，可以在发生严重故障之前定位泄漏并评估管道状况，该技术可以支持市政当局和水务局的资产管理，从而实现更智能的数据驱动决策。商业化的AUR技术的影响可以延伸到饮用水领域之外，可能包括石油管道和加压下水道系统。这个I-Corps项目是基于自主水下机器人（AUR）技术的开发，该技术在市政供水系统中大规模运行。AUR系统改编自滑翔机器鱼，这是一种水下机器人，结合了机器鱼和水下滑翔机的特点，实现了高机动性和长时间的环境监测作业。 通过有效地检测泄漏，AUR使水运营商能够精确定位需要立即修复的区域。这种积极主动的方法可以帮助节约用水，为市政当局节省成本。此外，AUR评估管道厚度的能力可以帮助对变薄的水管进行预防性维护，从而减少社区的水损失和服务中断。该技术还使AUR能够停留在水管系统内，超出消防栓到消防栓检查段，这使得饮用水服务在检查期间保持活跃，并且需要更少的监管批准。长距离管道检测可以减少70 - 80%的检测相关成本，使市政当局能够管理饮用水资产，并将节省的成本转移到其他资本项目中。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。