A new approach to in-pipe locomotion, “QuestionMe” technique increasing open innovation efficiency in petroleum robotics

Abstract

Different locomotion approaches have been developed for different cases, working environments and distinctive competencies and not to be applicable for all purposes. For the developer it is hard and cost intensive to find the right way to build such a locomotion system for distinctive requisitions which should fulfill predefined requirements or to define the locomotion type of the robot intended to be developed. In most cases it ends up with re-inventing already existing solutions. This shows the need for a tool where the requirements get sorted and tool guides the user for the right research method and efficient use of the variables and resources to build in-pipe locomotion solution. In this paper the development stages of in-pipe robot locomotion will be discussed, variables will be defined and analyzed that are to be used as inputs of the technique and the cases of usage or the situation of the in-pipe inspection robot's development will be assessed. Then possible variations and outcomes will be analyzed as well as technique will be offered as an example of Open Innovation action for an optimized social impact of robotics.