Childhood friends build robot to tackle blocked sewers

Vadodara: Two childhood friends from Vadodara — one now a municipal councillor and the other an innovator — joined hands to develop a robotic device that can detect and clear stubborn blockages in sewers, to prevent roads being dug up to fix such problems.The device is designed to first assess the extent of a blockage inside a sewer and then use bioremediation to break it down.The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) currently uses several methods to clear clogged sewage lines, including manual attempts with steel rods, jetting machines and in severe cases, super-sucker machines. If these fail, the affected portion of the pipeline is often excavated and replaced.Narvirsinh Chudasama, councillor from the Old Padra Road area, said the repeated digging of roads to fix such issues prompted him to think of a solution."I discussed this with my schoolmate, Mithilesh Patel, who has developed several devices earlier. Together we decided to design a robotic machine that could enter a sewage line, diagnose the problem and help resolve it," Chudasama said.The duo developed a proof of concept and secured a patent for their invention, titled ‘Robotic Device for Drainage Cleaning'. Initial trials have already been conducted and the robot is now being refined.Patel said further improvements are being planned, including better GPS resolution and AI features to enhance efficiency.Another advantage of the device, he said, is its affordability. "The prototype cost us around Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 to develop. Even after adding more AI features, it will remain cheaper than similar devices in the market, which cost several lakhs and involve high operation and maintenance expenses," Patel said.Patel said the robot can move through sludge and wastewater. It has an AI-enabled ESP32 camera and sensors that can analyse the extent of the blockage and estimate the volume of the mass obstructing sewage flow."Once we know the size and nature of the blockage, we can determine the quantity of microbes needed to break it down," Patel said.Chudasama added that his wife, who holds a degree in microbiology, helped the team connect with microbiologists to identify bacteria capable of dissolving the blockages."In laboratory trials, we identified bacteria that could dissolve about 100 grams of material blocking a sewage line within 15 to 20 minutes. We are now working to find microbes that can speed up the process further," he said.The robot will eventually be able to calculate the required quantity of microbes and spray them directly onto the blockage inside the sewer.