Robot for inspecting pipelines

摘要

Provided herein is a robot for inspecting pipelines as it moves along an outer surface of a pipeline, the robot comprising: a plurality of body parts detachably provided along a longitudinal direction of the pipeline; a connector configured to connect adjacent body parts, and to distance one of the connected body parts away from the pipeline so that the plurality of body parts may cross an obstacle; and a controller configured to control the connector to lift one of the body parts to cross an obstacle, with another body part secured to the pipeline.

主权项

1. A robot for inspecting pipelines as it moves along an outer surface of a pipeline, the robot comprising:
body parts detachably provided along a longitudinal direction of the pipeline; a connector configured to connect adjacent body parts among the body parts, and to move one of the body parts away from the pipeline so that the body parts may cross an obstacle; a controller configured to control the connector to lift one of the body parts to cross the obstacle, with another one of the body parts secured to the pipeline; and a sensor provided in at least one body part among the body parts, wherein each body part comprises a plurality of robot arms, wherein each plurality of robot arms comprises a first robot arm configured to contact the pipeline and guide a respective body part to perform a straight line motion along the longitudinal direction of the pipeline, and a second robot arm configured to contact the pipeline and guide another respective body part to perform a rotating motion around a circumference direction of the pipeline, wherein the sensor is configured to contact the pipeline to inspect the pipeline, and wherein the sensor is interlocked with the first robot arm such that when the first robot arm moves away from the pipeline, the sensor approaches the pipeline.