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Create a new robot called Tank Swimmer (name to be workshopped). Repurpose the existing rover, that is used to capture a Smartball in tanks, to perform a visual inspection of potable water storage tanks.
AWWA recommends potable water storage tanks be drained an inspected at least once every 3 years or as required by the state. As most states do not recommend inspection frequencies, the frequency is at the discretion of the utility. To complete an inspection, the tanks need to be drained for manned entry and there are a limited number of contractors available to perform the inspection service. Therefore, utilities often ignore inspection of potable water storage tanks due to the cost and difficulty of tanking the tank offline.
Failure to inspect potable water storage tanks can lead to many health risks from microbial growth associated with biofilm on the walls of the tanks. Organisms such as legionella pneumophila and nagleria fowleri may attach to and accumulate within the tank biofilm. It is important for utilities to be able to identify if their tanks are experiencing biofilm growth so the tanks can be cleaned to reduce public health risks. Visual tank inspection can also reveal structural issues that need to be addressed.
Tank Swimmer would be able to complete, at a minimum, a visual inspection of the tank to determined if a manned entry is needed for further inspection. Utilities could affordably have their tanks inspected annually to proactively mitigate risks. In addition, if a Utility experienced localized water quality issues, the Tank Swimmer could be deployed quickly to assess tank conditions.
Benefits:
New market opportunity.
Lower mobilization cost than pipe inspection.
Easier planning effort as compared to pipe inspections.
Retrieval of the robot (if something goes wrong) only requires the tank to be drained and entered. No excavation or utility repairs.
Other possible applications:
Reservoir Swimmer to inspect reservoirs or dams, inspect submerged valves, or for emergency needs. Would replace the need for a costly diver.
EM inspection of the tank, use of lidar for sediments, or measuring tank wall thickness (thanks Lynne Putnam!)
Retrieve a sample of the biofilm from the tank wall.
Internal potable water tank cleaning robot to remove biofilm.
Lauren Swiecicki
We had talked about the Tank market a few years ago but decided to stay away at that time. Currently we are reviewing our growth strategy and core problems that we want to help clients to solve. I will let the strategy team know about the potential gap in tank condition assessment market. My gut feel in the short term is we need to stay closer to our core "critical pipeline condition assessment and monitoring" - do that better before we add a new market. Thanks for the idea Lauren!
Even though there is competition in this market, there may be value in being able to provide a low-resolution screening inspection. For example, only capturing high-res video/photos and thus providing only a visual. A utility could do frequent, periodic, and low cost scans, and if there is something that shows up that causes concern they would then turn to a high-resolution drone/robotic detailed inspection.
I was conceptually thinking of something like an industrial designed Panono.
https://www.panono.com/
I don’t think we would explore this market however given the existing competition in the drone/robotic inspection space.
https://www.geckorobotics.com/oil-gas/tank-inspections
https://seadronepro.com/
https://www.irts-global.com/services/in-service-tank-robotic-inspections/