Timeframe
The project runs from December 2024 to December 2026.
Published: 16. Jan 2025
Robots must assemble water pipes in the future
Today, when water pipes are replaced and reassembled, it is performed manually in an excavation. In the future, a robot will be a blacksmith's extended arm and connect water pipes.
When the water utilities today establish new water pipes, it is associated with a lot of excavation work and soil, which must subsequently be transported to landfill. The employees work on connecting water pipes in the excavation itself. This also means that the excavation has to be of a certain size.
Assembly of water pipes must be carried out on the ground
A robot will change this, so that the blacksmiths in the future can stand up on the ground and do this work.
With the robotics company RobSub at the helm and the three largest Danish water utilities behind it, Aarhus Vand, VandCenter Syd and HOFOR, an existing prototype of a robot will be further developed.
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We will develop and make a robotic solution robust so that it can be implemented across the utilities. The goal is for the robot to automate the process of assembling water pipes, so that people do not have to deal with this work in an excavation.
The project is supported with 6.7 mio. DKK by the Environmental Technology Development and Demonstration Program as part of the Ministry of the Environment in Denmark. Over the next two years, RobSub ApS will further develop the prototype so that it can expose water pipes, drill and attach a sleeve. The three utilities contribute with insight into how the construction work is carried out today and how a robot can help efficiently put together service lines for main lines.
The robot will improve the working environment
Aarhus Vand sees several advantages with a robot solution.
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I see that we can improve our working environment. Work in an excavation is associated with both wear and tear due to poor working posture and risks because there may be high-voltage lines in the ground.
She also sees positive climate benefits.
"With a robot on the ground, we have to dig away a small amount of soil and thus a smaller amount of soil has to be driven away. Thereby, it also provides a positive climate benefit," says Inge Borre Haupt.
The robot will contribute to reducing the amount of soil for removal
With the construction and renovation of drinking water pipes, VandCenter Syd, HOFOR and Aarhus Vand currently have 9,000 excavations and 70,000 cubic meters of soil are dug up in this connection. So, there is a potential for the supplies.
"We look forward to developing this robot and adding it to our portfolio of tools. We look forward to a robot being able to improve the working environment for humans and save our natural resources," says Cecilie Røes Andersen, CEO, RobSub ApS.
Funding
The project is supported with DKK 6.7 million by the Environmental Technology Development and Demonstration Programme under the Ministry of the Environment.
Partners
The project manager is RobSub ApS and other project participants are Aarhus Vand, HOFOR, VandCenter Syd and Pernexus Systems.