“The big advantage of the WhisperPower solutions is the fact that they are hybrid,” says Production Manager Thomas Grupp at Prokasro Mechatronik. “So our mobile sewage repair vehicles can operate in urban areas with emission and noise restrictions.”
“We design and build robots that are capable of going through sewage pipes to solve clogs and execute repairs. Thanks to our robots, excavations are not necessary in most cases. People do not need to go into the sewage system for problem solving or repairs. We have robots that can go through sewage pipes of 100 mm. diameter, up to 1200 mm. Because clogged sewage pipes can occur at unexpected places, often in cities, the robots need to be able to be operated from mobile stations.
We provide vans and small trucks with all of the needed equipment for off-the-grid sewage repairs, that can launch the robots and other equipment from the street through a pothole. The power needed to operate the robot comes from the hybrid power solutions provided by WhisperPower. Because a lot of jobs are in cities, we can not have a big diesel generator running in the street. The hybrid system customised for our trucks has a big battery pack and a small silent generator. We can use this anywhere.”
Power underground
The hybrid system, consisting of a 12 kW DC generator ( Elite GV 3 Plus ) and a 900 Ah battery pack, is fitted into 6 ton capacity Iveco compact trucks and into compact vans, able to reach narrow streets. These vans with all their equipment can be driven without a truck driving license (in Germany, only up to 3,5 ton). Hybrid systems are also possible for 7.5 to 15 ton trucks, with the option for larger capacity up to 1600 Ah.
The robots are controlled from the van or truck, where an image from the robot’s cameras is projected on a screen and the operators use touch panels to steer the robot and engage its functions.
Multi technology
Prokasro Mechatronics combine engineering skills of electronics, mechanics and software engineering. A robot uses its mechanical qualities to be able to move through the inside of pipes and perform milling tasks or repairs by injecting sysnthetic resins into occasional cracks in the pipes. Electronic motors power the mechanic capabilities. Electronics in their asect, are controlled by computer software. Developers and engineers at Prokasro Mechatronik need to master all of these disciplines – making the work interesting. It provides a lot of opportunity for professional development.
An adaptable power source is needed to provide the required power at different stages of the operation of the robots developed. It was Cord Brandt, WhisperPower’s German distributor that made us aware of the clever hybrid systems. We configured a custom system for compact trucks, we initially installed 11 of these power systems. As of today, that number has increased and is still growing. Prokasro continues to deliver their trucks and vans to their clients with WhisperPower equipment in them.
Thomas Grupp, Prokasro Mechatronik