Use of Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUAV) for Pipeline Surveillance to Improve Safety and Lower Cost

Main Objective

The proposed program will be comprised of four phases: Feasibility, Application Development, Testing, and Commercialization to be completed over a period of three years. The use of available Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and automotive sensor technologies will allow the team to rapidly converge on a cost effective system solution to conduct aerial surveillance for right of way monitoring and leak detection. Electricore is confident that a Consolidated Program will maximize the results received through the investment by government and industry.

Public Abstract

Electricore, Inc. proposes to use battle proven Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) in combination with low cost, commercially available sensors to insure the integrity and security of the nation's pipelines. The objective is to rapidly converge on a cost-effective "system solution" that leverages latest technologies and is simple to operate for use in aerial surveillance, right of way monitoring and leak detection. These practical solutions will address Department of Transportation priorities to close gaps in safety, inspection and enforcement while reducing the cost of state of the art pipeline surveillance. In addition to pipelines, the proposed technology is applicable to a broad spectrum of other uses including power line inspection, rail line inspection, digital mapping, water and sewer monitoring and leak detection. Electricore, Inc. a public good, 501 (c) (3), not-for-profit, advanced technology development consortium has assembled a highly qualified team consisting of AeroVironment, Inc., Delphi Corporation, Pipeline Research Council International, Inc., Oceaneering, and Zaril Enterprises to successfully complete this effort.
See also Project No 169 for the other project in this Consolidated Program.