The robot, dubbed “SPD-X,” has been designed to help perform pipeline inspection and repair work, building upon its predecessor, Tmsuk’s “SPD1” robot.
Source: Tmsuk
The company explained that the SPD-X is smaller, longer and roughly three times heavier than the SPD1. Further, the SPD-X is fully waterproof, features an improved camera that offers 360° of vision at 12.3 and can traverse more challenging environments — encountering pipe joint misalignment or sediment buildup — unlike the SPD-1 design.
SPD- X is also capable of accessing other narrow spaces as well as potentially hazardous ones that humans cannot, the company explained. This is due, in part, to the robot's more advanced set of 16 legs, which enable the robot to traverse more obstacles faster.
The SPD-X robot is expected to reduce both the amount of time and labor required in manual pipeline inspections and repairs, as well as limit human exposure to potentially hazardous environments, Tmsuk explained.
To see the SPD-X in action, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of Tmsuk.
