Amount awarded: £1,615,325
Led by: Northumbrian Water
Partners: Environmental Monitoring Solutions Ltd, Gateshead Council, Jet Aire, Minicam Group, Newcastle City Council, Southern Water, Sunderland City Council, Thames Water, University of Sheffield
Pipebot Patrol will develop an autonomous sewer robot that lives in the sewer, constantly inspecting and raising alerts to the precise location of blockages, as they are beginning to form. This proactive approach allows maintenance teams enough time to react before sewer flooding occurs, keeping sewage where it belongs.
“This funding allows us to progress robotic solutions to monitor sewers and minimise the possibility of sewer flooding to customer properties and environmental impact. Combining robotics, autonomy and acoustics with smart-sewer networks, we’re developing new tools for water companies to meet our performance commitments to reduce sewer flooding.” – Richard Warneford, Wastewater Director, Northumbrian Water Group
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The Pipebot project continues to make strong progress as we explore innovative ways to improve the inspection and maintenance of underground wastewater networks. We are currently focused on the integration of sensing technologies with a Raspberry Pi-based control system, supported by a microcontroller unit (MCU), to enable real-time data collection, processing, and wireless communication. This setup allows for efficient identification of structural defects. Working collaboratively with EMS, Minicam, and the University of Sheffield, we are trialing a suite of sensors to support navigation and defect detection in confined pipe environments. Recent efforts have also focused on refining data transmission, ensuring robust operation in low-access areas. Looking ahead, we are planning field trials to assess long-term performance and maintenance needs. Our aim is to develop a cost-effective, autonomous solution that reduces the need for disruptive excavation and provides proactive maintenance insights for water utilities. .
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