“Over the last year, we’ve invested to build an extensive testing site that replicates underground utilities. Simon Langdale, engineering director at Synthotech, said: “Our partnership with Pipebots allows us to work in close partnership with leading academic institutions to fast-track the advancement and adoption of this technology. The project prevented the need for roadworks at a time when London was crowded with hundreds of thousands of visitors. In the run-up to the Coronation of King Charles, Synthotech worked with Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, to use robots to check for leaks, which led to sealing leaking joints next to Westminster Palace. The robots have already been trialled on gas pipes, with Northern Gas Networks, Wales & West Utilities and SGN all testing out the new technology. Synthotech, based in Harrogate, Yorkshire, has spent £1.2 million developing its LeakVision robots, which can be deployed remotely for long distances to speed up the investigation and repair process. “The benefits of pipeline robots include fewer roadworks for motorists and communities, alongside significant efficiency improvements for utility companies.” Well, virtual assistants are a separate breed of chatbots. The idea to automate it with chatbots came out of necessity. Prof Kirill Horoshenkov, programme director at the University of Sheffield, said: “The Pipebots partnership brings together leading innovators from industry and academia to accelerate the development and adoption of the latest robot technology in the UK’s pipeline networks. Robot icon Robotic chatbot avatar, computer chat help bot r Robot icon, Chatbot, Avatar For online businesses, messaging customers is one of the most time-consuming tasks. The Pipebots feasibility project – which is part-funded by Ofwat – will run for 10 months and if successful could be rolled out to water companies across Britain. But robots can travel underground looking for issues before they arise, spraying sealant on leaky joints. Finding and repairing the leaks is costly, and often involves disruption while companies dig up roads and footpaths.

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