English | 简体中文 | 繁體中文 | 한국어 | 日本語
Tuesday, 12 July 2016, 15:46 JST
Share:
    

Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
MHI and CIT develop Japan's First Anti-Explosive Remotely Operated Mobile Robot
Contributing to Safe and Efficient Data Collection and Inspection in Tunnel Accidents and Petrochemical Plants

TOKYO, July 12, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Chiba Institute of Technology (CIT) have jointly developed the remotely operated 'Sakura No. 2' (anti-explosive model) robot that features greatly reduced risk of electrical spark or heat creation that can cause explosions or fire when inflammable gas is present.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Chiba Institute of Technology have jointly developed the remotely operated "Sakura No. 2 (anti-explosive model)" robot that features greatly reduced risk of electrical spark or heat creation that can cause explosions or fire when inflammable gas is present.

It is the first mobile robot in Japan that can be remotely operated either wirelessly or by wire to be officially certified as anti-explosive. Applications and demand will be developed for safe and efficient data collection, inspection and light work in environments that require equipment to be anti-explosive such as tunnel accidents and petrochemical plants.

The robot is based on the "Sakura No. 2" robot developed by CIT that has built up experience in applications such as accident resolution support activities in nuclear power plants, and the advanced anti-explosive design has been realized by utilizing MHI's broad technical capabilities in industrial fields. It received outsourcing support and assistance from the "Project to develop systems to handle the social challenges of infrastructure maintenance management and renewal"(1) of The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

It also passed the anti-explosive model inspection of the Technology Institution of Industrial Safety (TIIS) in Japan. Further, it is planned to obtain an anti-explosive certification based on the ATEX Directive that is widely adopted in Europe and around the world. In order to make the robot anti-explosive, the pressure resistant anti-explosive casing that houses components such as the lithium ion batteries and battery management system (BMS).

The casing for the electrical parts such as the motor and controller have a higher internal pressure than the external atmosphere, giving a two-fold internal pressure plus pressure resistant anti-explosive protection. Meaning, that inflammable gases cannot penetrate to the interior of the casing due to the pressure difference, and if the casing internal pressure drops, for example if the casing is damaged, this is detected and the power supply is cut off.

Since the batteries for storing electricity are protected by a pressure resistant anti-explosive casing that was jointly developed by IDEC Corporation, the risk of igniting gas due to electrical sparks or heat has been greatly reduced. Due to its advanced anti-explosive design the robot can operate in highly explosive and diffusible hydrogen gas, and can be used in zone 1 hazardous areas(2).

It is hoped that the robot can be used in many situations in addition to applications such as methane gas spouts during excavation and tunnel accidents with a high risk of ignition or explosion due to vehicle fuel leaks. In the future, the deterioration of much social infrastructure that was built after the high growth period and industrial infrastructure such as oil refining plants, chemical plants and power plants will accelerate, increasing the risk of damage to people and society.

Therefore, needs are growing for robots that can carry out investigations of abnormalities and perform light work for emergency inspections and rapid recovery at the time of disasters, as well as for preventing and limiting disasters. There is also a trend toward using robots in applications such as new oil field facilities or oil and chemical related facilities. The robots are expected to carry out work such as inspections at low cost and with high precision in places that are hard for humans to work in such as working at height or in confined areas.

In addition to making efforts to increase the needs from all sides on the occasion of the development of the Sakura No. 2 robot (anti-explosive model), MHI and CIT will strive to further expand applications and reveal potential needs, with initiatives such as developing an anti-explosive robot arm and a self-driving robot.

(1) The R&D theme "Project to develop systems to handle the social challenges of infrastructure maintenance management and renewal / Infrastructure maintenance management robot technology and non-destructive inspection equipment development / R&D of exploration robots for inflammable gas atmospheres" is a 4-year plan, of which FY2014 to FY2015 was an outsourced project and FY2016 to FY207 is a support project.
(2) Second of three hazardous area classifications: A place in which a hazardous atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation. Applies to almost all hazardous places other than inside oil tanks (zone 0).

Contact:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Joseph Hood, PR Manager
Email: mhi-pr@mhi.co.jp
Tel: +81-(0)3-6716-2168
Fax: +81-(0)3-6716-5860



Topic: Press release summary
Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Sectors: Design Process, Electronics, CyberSecurity
https://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network


Copyright © 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.

 
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Links

http://www.mhi.com

https://www.mhi.com/rss/

https://www.facebook.com/mhi.ltd/

https://twitter.com/MHI_Group

https://www.youtube.com/user/DiscoverMHI

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mitsubishi-heavy-industries/

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Related News
Friday, 20 December 2024, 17:24 JST
Contract Renewed on Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Services for APM System at Washington Dulles International Airport
2024年12月20日 10時30分 JST
三菱重工グループCrystal Mover Services、米国ワシントン・ダレス国際空港のAPMシステム運行・保守(O&M)契約を更新
2024年12月19日 13時30分 JST
三菱重工、防衛省向け3,900トン型護衛艦「ながら」の命名・進水式を長崎で実施
Thursday, 19 December 2024, 13:49 JST
MI LNG Company to Change Corporate Name to MILES
2024年12月19日 10時36分 JST
三菱重工と今治造船の合弁会社であるMI LNGを「MILES」へ社名変更
More news >>
Copyright © 2024 ACN Newswire - Asia Corporate News Network
Home | About us | Services | Partners | Events | Login | Contact us | Cookies Policy | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms of Use | RSS
US: +1 214 890 4418 | China: +86 181 2376 3721 | Hong Kong: +852 8192 4922 | Singapore: +65 6549 7068 | Tokyo: +81 3 6859 8575