Collaboration develops Pipebots to find and fix leaks from water pipes

With a length of around 350,000km, the UK’s water network dates back to the Victorian era. As the underground infrastructure is ageing, cracks and faults are causing water to be continuously leaked. 

Currently, the only way for human workers to pinpoint the flaw is by digging and locating a leak, which can take days of searching, resulting in high costs and road closures. Such works cost the UK economy at least £4bn per year.

To tackle this, researchers from Sheffield University’s School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, in collaboration with the universities of Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds, have developed miniature robots with new sensors that can travel through pipes and check for defects autonomously. 

The Pipebots are equipped with high-spec acoustic sensors and cameras, which enable them to navigate and detect faults. The smallest robot measures 40mm wide.

Without the need to dig up roads or pavements, a Pipebot swarm can be placed in a deployment hub and lowered into a water pipe through a hydrant. The Pipebots will then explore the area, scan for faults, and relay data back to the engineer above ground.