The University of Electro-Communications and Osue Construction have developed a snake-like robot that automatically inspects underground pits in buildings and condominiums during construction for the maintenance of plumbing and electrical wiring for water supply and drainage systems.In the future, after repeated demonstration experiments and improvements, we will introduce it to the construction site of Osue Construction in 2023, and we will also proceed with the development of construction support robots on the ground floor.
According to the University of Electro-Communications, the snake-like robot was created based on a robot created by Professor Motoyasu Tanaka of the University of Electro-Communications Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering.Utilizing the switching between levitation and grounding of the joints of the snake-shaped robot, it moves inside the underground pit while avoiding obstacles by autonomous driving and shoots the inside condition.
Furthermore, with appropriate route planning and speed control, it is possible to autonomously pass through a man-made entrance with a maximum height of 1 meter that connects each section of the underground pit while avoiding overturning.
The underground pit is an important place for buildings with water supply and drainage facilities and electrical wiring, and Osue Construction inspectors visually check the operation of the equipment and the status of concrete placement before construction is completed.However, due to the low ceilings, the need to pass through an access door to move between compartments, and the high humidity and carbon dioxide concentration, there is a danger of lack of oxygen, so the burden on inspectors was heavy.
Osue Construction hopes that the use of snake-like robots will improve the efficiency of inspection work and reduce the burden on inspectors.
