UNEXMIN GeoRobotics Ltd. participated in the official kick-off meeting of the PIPEON project, marking the launch of this ambitious Horizon Europe–funded research and innovation initiative. The kick-off event took place on 22–23 January at The University of Sheffield, bringing together all 12 project partners to align objectives, exchange expertise, and initiate the project’s technical and organisational activities.
What is PIPEON?
PIPEON (Robotics and AI for Sewer Pipe Inspection and Maintenance) is a 4-year, €8 million, multi-partner research and development project, funded by the European Union and coordinated by TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology. The project focuses on the development of novel robotic and AI-based technologies for the mapping, monitoring, and maintenance of Europe’s sewer networks.
By combining autonomous robotic platforms with advanced AI-based modelling and data analysis tools, PIPEON aims to significantly improve the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of sewer inspection and maintenance operations.
Launching an Ambitious Collaboration
The kick-off meeting provided an opportunity for project partners to introduce their organisations, define technical roles, and establish a shared vision for the coming years. The discussions laid the groundwork for close collaboration across disciplines, ranging from robotics and artificial intelligence to infrastructure management and environmental protection.
As highlighted during the meeting, underground sewer networks represent one of the most complex, hazardous, and hard-to-reach environments, despite being an essential part of everyday urban life. PIPEON addresses this challenge by developing robotic solutions capable of operating autonomously in these demanding conditions, reducing risks for human workers while improving data quality and decision-making.
UNEXMIN’s Contribution
As a project partner, UNEXMIN GeoRobotics Ltd. contributes its expertise in robotic systems designed for confined and challenging environments. Building on our experience in underwater and underground robotics, we support the development, testing, and evaluation of robotic solutions that can operate reliably in real-world sewer networks.
The project’s long-term ambition is to validate robotic prototypes in multiple European sewer systems, paving the way for broader deployment of robotic inspection and maintenance solutions in the coming decade.
The kick-off meeting at The University of Sheffield marked an important first step in this journey. UNEXMIN GeoRobotics Ltd. looks forward to actively contributing to the PIPEON project and sharing further updates as the work progresses.