Scientists from the Northern Arctic Federal University in Arkhangelsk have created a robot manipulator designed to diagnose hard-to-reach components of equipment in oil fields. This was announced by Alisher Khakimov, a third-year postgraduate student in the field of "Development and operation of oil and gas fields".
The robot will be used to detect defects in pumping units, of which there are about 20 thousand units. In the event of a breakdown, for example, of a chain drive, a complete shutdown of the unit and dismantling of the frame is required, which leads to downtime and economic losses. The new diagnostic complex will allow early detection of malfunctions and optimize operating costs.
According to Khakimov, pumping units in oil fields undergo periodic maintenance, but mechanics can only assess their condition from the outside, since the main components are hidden under the frame and are difficult to access. The operation of mechanisms, high temperature and gas contamination make human access impossible, which leads to sudden breakdowns. The compact robot manipulator will be able to check the condition of mechanisms from the inside, preventing emergency situations.
The robot will be equipped with tracks for high cross-country ability and a hinged-axial manipulator for moving the camera, which will transmit the image to the operator's console. It is planned to use computer vision technology to automate the search for defects, which will allow moving from emergency repairs to planned diagnostics and maintenance, reducing downtime and economic losses.
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