At a time when a large proportion of people are facing shortages of drinking water, a staggering 32 billion m3 of clean water is lost per year due to faulty distribution networks around the world. This is where technologies such as ACWA Robotics’ autonomous robot Pathfinder become a very relevant product for utilities. The system can navigate through the center of a water supply network without interrupting water distribution to users to provide up-to-date data.
The technology was recognized at CES 2023 (Consumer Electronics Show) with the title of “Best Innovation” in the Smart Cities category and is an honorable mention in the titles of “Human Security for All, Sustainability, Eco-Design and Smart Energy”. CES is one of the most influential technology exhibitions in the world, which will be held from January 5 to 8 in Las Vegas in 2023.
According to a UN report, global demand for water is expected to exceed supply by 40 percent by 2030, and water costs in the supply chain are something cities can no longer afford.
“Our intelligent robot evolves inside the pipe without interrupting water distribution and provides key data to build a digital twin of the network, save millions of m3 of water, and optimize cities’ investments in water infrastructure,” the company says on its website.
How Pathfinder works
The robot, which is fully autonomous and designed to pass through elbows and service lines, can also go with or against the flow of water in the respective pipeline. Each Pathfinder robot is equipped with sensors adapted to the specific pipeline material, diameter, and network operating model.
The system is able to analyze the location of the pipe to within a centimeter, providing a report on the overall condition of the pipe (remaining thickness, corrosion, microcracks, ovality) and any data that may be required regarding water and hydraulics (pressure, quality, turbidity).
According to the company’s website, one of the main goals of the Pathfinder project is to “provide water utilities and network operators with the most accurate and efficient data possible.”
How quality is maintained
To make sure that water quality does not deteriorate while using such systems, the ACWA team made sure that Pathfinder’s robots comply with French sanitary requirements from the Autorité de Conformité Sanitaire. “During missions with drinking water, the robots will access the network through a sanitized gateway,” the firm notes.
Intelligent technology also ensures that Pathfinder missions include risk management solutions, with the system automatically interrupting the mission and returning to base in the event of any unexpected situations. “Mission programs include a ‘safe recovery mode’ that allows our robots to disconnect from the pipe and return to base safely,” according to ACWA.