Digital And Physical Twins Of Autonomous Inspection Robotic System For Underground Stormwater Drainage Infrastructure (ART/357CP) | ASTRI - Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Company Limited

Project Title:

Digital and Physical Twins of Autonomous Inspection Robotic System for Underground Stormwater Drainage Infrastructure (ART/357CP)

Project Reference:

ART/357CP

Project Type:

Platform

Project Period:

30 / 03 / 2023 - 29 / 06 / 2024

Funds Approved (HK$’000):

9,890

Project Coordinator:

Dr Tak Kuen John KOO

Deputy Project Coordinator:

Deliverable:

Research Group:

Sponsor:

Drainage Services Department (DSD)

Description:

The project aims at developing the technology foundations for enabling Digital and Physical Twins of Autonomous Inspection Robotic System for Underground Stormwater Drainage Infrastructure (DPAIRS) by leveraging advanced LIDAR/Vision and Mapping/Navigation methodologies developed in Robotics so that the Inspection process can be conducted with high level of autonomy and with not only semantic but also structural information even in 3D Cluttered environment. In this project, LIDAR/Vision sensors are used for collecting visual and structural data for inspection and Mapping/Navigation purposes. A mobile robotic system is adopted for carrying the payload and moving in the environment of Underground Stormwater Drainage Infrastructure. Based on the information collected, Mapping of 3D Environments is conducted to organize the visual and structural data collected for Photogrammetry and Localization purposes. Given the Mapping information, Navigation in 3D Cluttered environment can be conducted by the mobile robotic system. The Digital and Physical Twins Approach is adopted so that the robotic system can be designed, optimized and validated via the Digital Twin before the actual deployment via the Physical Twin. After the completion of DPAIRS, the technology developed will be enabling the Drainage Services Department (DSD) to further develop sophisticated inspection and monitoring system by deploying more autonomous operations.

Co-Applicant:

Keywords:

More about ASTRI

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness through applied research. ASTRI’s core R&D competence in various areas is grouped under five Technology Divisions: Advanced Electronic Components and Systems; Artificial Intelligence and Trust Technologies; Communications Technologies; Innovative Mind; and IoT Sensing and AI Technologies. It is applied across six core areas which are Smart City, Financial Technologies, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Digital Health, Application Specific Integrated Circuits and Metaverse.

Over the years, ASTRI has nurtured a pool of research, I&T talents and received numerous international awards for its pioneering innovations as well as outstanding business and community contributions. As of 2023/24, ASTRI has transferred more than 1,500 technologies to the industry and has been granted over 1,100 patents in the Mainland, the US, and other countries.

As a Hong Kong R&D centre, one of ASTRI’s important goals is to help customers harness business opportunities from the thriving technology market and increase their competitive strengths. Customers and partners can improve their efficacy by drawing on ASTRI’s expertise and research achievements.