Peru. It is common to observe how operators or technical personnel expose their physical integrity when inspecting the state of large storage tanks, something that greatly worried the engineer Ulises Huamán Ladera, who led the project "Construction of a prototype for the detection and evaluation of corrosion in walls, roof and bottom of storage tanks of hydrocarbon solutions".
This innovation project culminated in the manufacture of a semi-automatic robot called "Mobile Robot", which has the ability to detect and analyze with enough precision corrosion in walls, ceiling and bottom of tanks. "During its tour of the tank, the theft collects information that will allow a graphic representation of the state of corrosion that the containers have," explained engineer Huamán Ladera, manager of the company Non Destructive Testing Services S.A.C.
"This proposal is cost-effective and technically novel for the local market, where there is poor technology for the detection and analysis of corrosion of container thicknesses," he added.
For the execution of the proposal, more than 400,000 nuevos soles (about US$125,000) were invested, which was co-financed by the National Innovation Program for Competitiveness and Productivity (Innóvate Perú), of the Ministry of Production, as well as by the National University of Engineering.
"The amount of data that our robot collects will serve mining, petrochemical or fishing companies, so that they can then take corrective measures to avoid possible spills and accidents," he said.
Engineer Huamán also highlighted the speed and precision with which this team works. "While it takes a technician more than three to inspect a tank 10 to 15 meters high, the Mobile Robot only needs a maximum of two days," he said.
