Sprint Robotics has launched a new industrial innovation challenge and has issued a call for robotic technologies for Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance.
Sprint Robotics announces the CFM Challenge, aiming to find demonstrable robotic technologies that can be used for the cleaning and fabric maintenance of storage tanks, pressure vessels, process piping, and their associated supporting infrastructure.
One winning solution provider will receive a reward of €50,000 and the opportunity to further develop their solution and its application.
The CFM Challenge is initiated by several subject matter experts from major oil & gas and petrochemical companies that form the Sprint Robotics Task Force Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance.
Members of the Sprint Robotics Cleaning and Fabric Maintenance Task Force include:
- BP
- Chevron
- Dow
- Equinor
- Saudi Aramco
- SBM Offshore
- Shell
- Total
The CFM Challenge contains five different challenges targeting the cleaning & fabric maintenance of storage tanks, pressure vessels, process piping, and their associated supporting infrastructure.
The focus is on existing and new robotic tools near commercialization that can eliminate confined space entries, scaffolding, or rope access while performing cleaning or fabric maintenance activities.
The CFM Challenge officially opened on July 1, 2020 and is open to all and the categories are listed below, with some details.
CFM Challenge #1: Crude storage tanks
Developing solutions capable of providing insight to the quality of the tank floor, floor coating, and so on.
CFM Challenge #2: Pressure vessels
Further accelerate robotic inspection technologies by first addressing cleaning and fabric maintenance.
CFM Challenge #3: Process piping
Robotizing this process would enable a better workflow for operators carrying out a significant number of digs per year.
CFM Challenge #4: Floating, production, storage, and offloading
Use robotics to eliminate scaffolding or rope access as well as CSE exposure hours while accelerating the maintenance schedule and improving overall efficiency.
CFM Challenge #5: Open call for cleaning and fabric maintenance robotics
Accelerate the utilization and development of robotics for the inspection and maintenance of capital intensive infrastructure.
