Offshore
Robotics
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Inspection and maintenance tasks on offshore platforms as well as in chemical and petro-chemical production facilities offer great potential for automation. However, such monotonous, sometimes dangerous work can only occasionally be carried out using conventional decentralized automation solutions owing to the high complexity of installation as well as changing main-tenance requirements. The use of a mobile inspection robot allows these problems to be overcome. High automation potential, lower operating costs and improved occupational health and safety are the principal benefits from automated execution of the following maintenance and inspection tasks:
- Monitoring of liquid levels and readings of measuring instruments,
- Acoustic inspection, e.g. of pumps,
- Checking for leaks,
- Taking of samples,
- Maintenance of stationary fire and gas sensors.
Requirements
The operating environment of robots on oil and gas platforms differs significantly from the conventional operating environments of mobile service robots in offices and factories. Offshore platforms are often characterized by extreme climatic conditions as well as by explosive and toxic atmospheres. Additional challenges include the need to navigate and move quickly over slippery steel floors, open gratings and sharp-edged steps; to manoeuvre in very narrow passages and to operate autonomously.
Components and Abilities
Robot Hardware
MIMROex is the first prototype of an offshore inspection robot that is capable of safely performing the above-mentioned tasks. One of the especially difficult-to-meet requirements is the explosion protection of the entire machine. Industrial components are combined in an integrated concept which makes the robot fit for ATEX certification.
Control Software
The control software is easy to use. The robot is taught different inspection tasks by means of a manual operator control device, such as an explosion-proof PDA, this requiring the operator to be in the immediate vicinity of the robot. Hav-ng taught the robot its new inspection tasks, the operator is then free to remain in the central control station while the robot autonomously executes the inspection tasks. A database computer in the central control station is used to store the recorded sensor data for display and evaluation.
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Images
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Product Sheet
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