NewYou can listen to Fox News articles now!
Fixing groundwater pipes often means digging roads and sidewalks, which are destructive and expensive processes. However, researchers at the University of Sheffield in the UK are adopting another approach. They developed a small robot called “Pipebot” that can propagate within water pipes and possibly repair leaks without excavation.
Sign up for my free online report
Get my best technical tips, emergency security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered directly to your inbox. Plus, you’ll be visiting my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide now – Free when joining me cyberguy.com/newsletter.
Pipeline robots in various environments. (University of Sheffield)
Old underground pipelines are causing a crisis
The UK has some of the oldest water systems in the world, and part of the network can still be traced back to the Victorian era. Not surprisingly, many of these pipes are leaking, wasting about 790 million gallons of water every day. Repairing them usually means digging streets, which can cause significant disruption and increase the country’s $5 billion in maintenance costs per year.
Prototype of the bottle. (University of Sheffield)
Little robot is here to rescue
Pipebot is a small high-tech assistant designed to navigate the underground world of underground water pipes. Each has a sound sensor, a camera and solid wheels that help it through tight and tortuous spaces – although smart enough to avoid restricted areas.
They fall into the water system through fire hydrants and travel in groups, scanning for even the smallest cracks inside the pipe. When they find the problem, they send details back to the engineers above the ground, making it easier to solve the problem without digging anything.
An illustration shows that the bottle was found to have leaked. (University of Sheffield)
Robots are part of a larger innovation program
These robots are part of a bigger effort to modernize how Britain manages its aging water infrastructure. The initiative is not only a university research project—it is supported by the UK water regulator Ofwat (Water Services Regulatory Authority), but also involves several collaborative projects.
One of these projects focuses on using a pipe pot to inspect on-site pressurized wastewater pipes, also known as lifting power supplies. The goal is to detect problems early and perform repairs, and then leaks can lead to contamination.
Another project called “excavation-free repair” is working on ways to repair internal leaks inside the water pipe, completely avoiding the need for destructive road work.
There is also the EU-funded Pipeon project, which is developing advanced AI-powered robots that can autonomously inspect sewers without human guidance.
Pipebot’s image. (University of Sheffield)
Kurt’s key points
These little robots may be exactly the countries around the world that need to keep their water systems running smoothly. They have the potential to make maintenance cleaners more affordable and more efficient. This is especially important for developing countries with tight budgets and aging or incomplete infrastructure. As the pressure to conserve water increases, tools like Pipebots can have a real impact in helping us manage this important resource more wisely.
What water infrastructure challenges do you have in your area and do you think robots like this can help? By writing to us, let us know cyberguy.com/contact.
Sign up for my free online report
Get my best technical tips, emergency security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered directly to your inbox. Plus, you’ll be visiting my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide now – Free when joining me cyberguy.com/newsletter.
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. all rights reserved.
