Modelling and design of a drain cleaning robot

Abstract

Underground sewers collect waste from domestic and industrial buildings. These pipes are designed to carry only liquid and semi-solid wastes such as soap water and human excrement. However due to improper disposal, solid waste materials such as rags, plastic waste, condoms, sanitary napkins, white cement etc. are also found. Since the pipes are not meant to carry these wastes, they cause blockages. Apart from sewer drains housing societies with sewage treatment plants (STPs) also face this problem. Clearing these blocks either require a human worker, which endangers human life due to presence of toxic gases, or a high-pressure water hose cum suction machine which is very expensive. The aim of this paper is to design an automatic robot which will be able to clear blocks quickly at a much lower cost without any threat to human life. The robot will be lowered into the sewer pipes through a manhole. It will propel itself till it reaches the block then clear the block. The robot is tethered by data cable for communication and to prevent it from flowing away. A rope is used to retrieve the robot once the block is cleared.