PROJECT WITH OPTICAL FIBER TECHNOLOGY

National University researchers advance with the development of a pipe’s inside inspection mechanism that will allow identifying the status of Ecopetrol’s pipelines, based in the use of optical fiber technology.
The idea is to put a camera (connected with this technology) on the pipes, allowing generating precise information about the pipelines’ status, because one of the advantages with the optical fiber that will be used in this project is its ease for adapting to the piping path
The project isn’t only about a unity managed by optical fiber and guided externally by an operator; it also involves the development of software, needed to do the images’ analysis, in order to compare and identify the obstacles inside the pipe.
According to professor Pedro Torres Trujillo, director of research group in Photonics and Optoelectronics, the project, being conducted by professor Jorge Iván García, director of Scientific and Industrial Instrumentation group, aims to ‘analyze sent via optical fiber to a foreign port, who takes advantage of this technology, such as low weight and electromagnetic immunity, allowing a better quality from the video signal transmission to the outside of the pipe, which means better quality of the images without losing signal, as frequently happens with other technologies.’
The expert explained that project’s main goal is ‘to have an inspection unity, i.e., a little robot who allows knowing and exploring 70 meters inner pipe, with a 4 inches diameter, in order to recognize at least 10 different obstacles that can be inside the pipe”
The robot, equipped with a camera, is inserted into the pipe and transmits images from inside the duct in real time; for safety, it includes an umbilical cord if there’s a difficulty in the pipe.
This project, which requires an estimated investment of 70 million dollars, experts said, responds to a problem related to transport fuel, because with time and the activities of the industry, deterioration occurs in the inner walls of pipes.
Thus, from the School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences of the National University in Medellin, the construction of new knowledge and technological innovations that impact the domestic industry is proposed, not only supplying the needs for preventive programs for the conservation of the Ecopetrol’s piping and connections, but other sectors such as telecommunications systems and industrial processes monitoring, which could benefit with this prototype.

Telecommunications Antioquia

The project focuses on strengthening the sector telecommunications in the fields of new technologies and data networks in developing new technologies for applications in device and mobile communications. The idea is to create in the people of the region's new creative visions

the use of these technologies in electronics, to be the basis for the development of other sectors fundamental to the national economy.

Today, 2009, 85% of students Antioquenos have access to the network, [45] but for next year, 2010, the department will provide full coverage of this service throughout its territory.