- Cadent utilising innovative ‘Gas-Bots’ to carry out important work to gas mains in the Capital faster, smoother and more economically
- New film showcases innovative CISBOT at work under The Strand
- CISBOT just one example of how Cadent is using innovative technology and techniques to keep Londoners connected to safe and reliable gas supplies
Robots – long the stuff of science fiction and space operas – are now helping Britain’s largest gas distribution company Cadent deliver improvements to the gas network smoother, faster and more economically.
This summer CISBOT – an innovative robotic system developed by American company ULC Robotics – has been operating beneath two of the capital’s busiest locations Oxford Street and The Strand, carrying out important work to the gas mains network.
Using traditional methods the jobs would have taken months to complete and involved engineers digging large scale excavations and potential interruption of gas supply for local users. However using CISBOT project worktimes have been reduced to a matter of weeks with the job being delivered without the need to dig large excavations.
The work has involved CISBOT giving a new lease of life to ageing joints on the pipes. This reduces the risk of gas escapes and should extend their life of the pipes involved by decades.
CISBOT needed only one small excavation to access each 500m section of pipeline, enabling work to be done with minimal disruption to the public.
Controlled by a highly trained team of operators working in an above ground vehicle the ‘Gas-Bot’ enters the gas mains via a special insertion tube. Once inside the main it carries out its work rehabilitating the gas main joints by injecting a special sealant into them.
James Harrison, Cadent Head of Operations for London, said: “Cadent is helping lead a robotic roadworks revolution with CISBOT which enables improvements to the network to be carried out much faster, smoother and more economically than before.”
The work would previously have required a number of large excavations but with CISBOT work was carried out using a few small excavations.
Mr Harrison added: “Though it’s not currently suitable for every kind of job we need to do, we plan to use CISBOT more and more in the future.
“That’s great news for Londoners as they’ll keep on enjoying the benefits of safe and reliable gas supplies but with less associated disruption from our essential work, all of which should help boost well-being, efficiency and prosperity in the capital.”
First trialled in London in the early 2010s, the CISBOT technology was developed by New York based company ULC Robotics, who also have a UK office in Dartford, Kent.
Graeme Cleeton, Vice President UK Operations, ULC Robotics, said: “Using CISBOT means the impact on traffic is dramatically reduced and also means that customers don’t have their gas supply interrupted.
“Work can also be carried out much faster for example in The Strand CISBOT has delivered gas mains remediation work in approximately nine weeks compared to nine months using traditional methods.”
The robots have received an enthusiastic reception from Westminster City Council, the local authority which administers Oxford Street and The Strand.
Councillor Tim Mitchell, cabinet member for Environment and City Management, said: “Traditionally, busy roads like Oxford Street would be dug up for up to nine months and gas services intermittently cut, but this incredible robot significantly reduces the impact on our residents and local workers, as well as our roads.
“As our Council Leader has pledged, Westminster City Council is committed to coordinating utility works while reducing disruption for our residents, businesses and visitors, so we strongly support the innovative work of Cadent Gas’ robot and hope other councils follow suit to reduce disturbance across London and the UK.”
Across the capital thousands of excavations are dug each year to facilitate a variety of roadworks, often causing substantial disruption to the public.
After its success in Oxford Street and The Strand, Cadent is looking to increase the use of the innovative robot across its network.
The use of CISBOT is just one example of Cadent’s innovative approach to delivering its essential work to keep people connected to safe and reliable gas supplies, with as little disruption as possible.
To watch a film chronicling CISBOT’s work in The Strand go to
https://vimeo.com/293149715
ENDS