Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_SGN0104 | |
| Title | Robotic Roadworks System (RRS) - Stage 2 | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Civil Engineering) 50%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given SGN |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 November 2016 | |
| End Date | 01 April 2017 | |
| Duration | 5 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £305,303 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Information Technologies | |
| Region | South East | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , SGN (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_SGN0104 |
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| Objectives | The objective of this project is to: Carry out a hands on investigation into performing current operational repair and maintenance activities using a new innovative robotic system. Finalise a list of core hole and compact excavation repair/maintenance operations and rural excavations that may be used in the system development. Additionally, focus will be applied to selecting operations, not currently performed in core holes, which may be performed in a core hole when using this new system. Finalise a robust cost benefit analysis (CBA) which may be used to support an ongoing Stage 3. The success criteria for the project are: Finalisation of priority operations that form the baseline for the design and development of the RRSSummary of research of conventional and state-of-the-art Locating and Mark-out technologies. This will include test results from hands-on testing performed under this stage of workDescription of the maturation of the RRS conceptual design including potential sensors and tools and the preliminary layout of these tools, sensors and equipment in the truck and on the mobile platformResults of preliminary development of system architecture with a focus on key components and interfacesA list of preliminary system requirements to aid in further system development under the next stage of workResults of research into a ‘soft touch’ excavation tool solution for eliminating damage during excavationUpdates to the Stage 1 outputs generated during Stage 2 for the robotic arm selection, operational considerations for deploying the RRS, procedural steps for performing keyhole operations with operator intervention points and learning outcomes, will be provided in this final report. | |
| Abstract | Operations and maintenance costs represent a major portion of any GDNs budget. Gas main excavations as currently performed are very labour-intensive and disruptive, but necessary to repair aging infrastructure and install new asset. Various operational teams are required to perform asset location and mark up, excavation, sheeting and shoring, repair or replace and reinstatement. A single excavation represents a major investment of time, money, personnel, and equipment. The costs of these excavations are ultimately incurred by the gas customer. The cost of labour, the cost to operate and maintain the vehicles and equipment, and the cost of lane rental and permitting will only continue to increase. In addition, the underground networks of major cities can be very crowded, with gas, sewer, water, electrical, telecommunications, and other utilities running in close proximity to one another. These underground networks are often inadequately mapped and the locations of different utility infrastructure installed below street level are almost never integrated on the same map. This lack of integration can lead to accidental impacts with unknown buried infrastructure during excavation; potentially causing service disruptions, serious damage, and even loss of life and property. Keyhole excavation has become a standard method used to access buried utility infrastructure. Keyholes drastically decrease the size of the excavation - making them minimally disruptive to customers and the public. Although repairs and maintenance performed via keyhole is a substantial improvement over standard excavation techniques, improvements to the full end to end process would yield dramatic benefits to end users and to the GDNs. SGN are now looking to assess the possibility of introducing a more advanced innovative robotic roadworks solution to improve the operational processes, specifically around excavations and the works required in them. Task 1: Shortlist Robotic OperationsUnder Stage 1 of the project, a list of potential operations was collaboratively developed by ULC and SGN and formed the basis for the preliminary feasibility assessment. Task 2: Identify and Test Locating and Mark-Out SolutionsDuring Stage 1, an investigation into locating technology and techniques was performed. While some existing locating technology may hold great promise for locating underground utilities, there is potential to develop and refine locating and mark-out tools and techniques for a mobile platform. As a next step, during Stage 2, ULC will perform comprehensive research, review state-of-the-art locating and mark-out solutions, and identify the latest research that has commercialization potential. Task 3: System Architecture and Conceptual DesignULC will develop the initial system architecture and continue with the conceptual design of the system. System architecture development includes the following tasks: Identification of system functions and components based on operations selected under Task 1. These system functions will be documented in the report. Identification of key interfaces and potential technologies for these interfaces. This includes developing the preliminary requirements for these interfaces. Development of preliminary electronics and software architecture. This includes the determination of the types of electronic and software components e. g. circuit boards, control panels, user interface etc. that will be required for the RRS and the interfaces between these components. The architecture will be documented in the form of block diagrams. Task 4: Preliminary Investigation and Development of Excavating MethodUnder this task, ULC will review the current excavation tools including minimally invasive tools and determining the adequacy of the tools in performing excavations while minimizing the risk of accidental infrastructure damage. Following this review, ULC proposes to build a new tool or method for use with the RRS system. Task 5: Review and Update Phase 1 ConsiderationsUnder Stage 2, ULC will review the operational considerations and excavation processes outlined in Stage 1 and may update them based on new information derived during shortlisting the operations in Task 1, determining the locating and mark-out technology in Task 2, developing the RRS architecture and conceptual design in Task 3, and developing excavation methods in Task 4.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 11/12/18 | |
