A new, unprecedented technological advancement has suddenly become available to particle physics. Join “PipeINEER,” the autonomous inspection robot that’s poised to change the industry. The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) robotics center created this groundbreaking technology. It would greatly reduce the impact on maintenance activities at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which has run smoothly since 2008.
PipeINEER is small, measuring only 20 centimeters long and 3.7 centimeters wide. It is literally built to withstand the LHC’s cramped and frigid conditions inside that machine’s vast 27-kilometer (17 miles) underground home. The massive collider sits about 100 meters (328 feet) below ground at the French-Swiss border near Geneva. We accelerate two particle beams to almost the speed of light and collide them to answer some of the most fundamental questions in physics. Perhaps most famously, the LHC was responsible for discovering the Higgs boson in 2012.
Powered by cutting-edge artificial intelligence, PipeINEER autonomously navigates through the cramped confines of narrow pipes, photographing every inch of the beams’ path. Its AI-powered features helped it quickly catch deformities, dislocations and more. Its cutting-edge technology allows it to inspect the collider’s extremely complex system of over 1,200 dipole magnets placed end-to-end. This is a significant step forward for inspection technology. Now, we are able to do much deeper, more intensive assessments in places that prior to this technology were difficult to assess.
Dr. Giuseppe Bregliozzi from CERN expressed optimism about the robot’s potential impact on LHC operations:
“The robot will transform how we inspect and maintain the LHC.”
Nick Sykes, a representative from UKAEA, emphasized the collaborative effort behind this advancement, stating:
“By combining our remote handling experience with CERN’s scientific excellence, we’re helping ensure the Large Hadron Collider operates safely and efficiently for years to come.”
The creation of PipeINEER represents just one major advance to improve both operational safety and efficiency in the LHC. In addition to expediting deployment, deployment acceleration operations will help the sector decrease inspection downtime and enhance predictive maintenance strategies.