Meet Endobots: These Homegrown Mini Robots Crawlers Aim To Help Us Deal With Blockages, Leakages In Water & Sanitary Pipelines. This Is How They Work

Solinas, a Chennai-based startup established in 2018, aims to revolutionise the maintenance of large pipeline assets and sanitation systems through robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

Solinas' efforts have already made a significant impact, reportedly providing clean water to over 100,000 household. (Image credit: Solinas)

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Why are robots created? To start with, they are intended to ease tasks and make things easier for humans. This can mean anything from automating the production line at a factory to cleaning our living room floors. Then, there are advanced aids. These include sending robots to where humans cannot easily reach to complete tasks. This, interestingly, can range from sending rovers to extraterrestrial surfaces for space exploration to deep caves and ravines during rescue missions. A Chennai-based startup has put this latter ideology into practical use by creating mini robots that can crawl around pipelines to check for leakages, blockages, and other important elements. 

In a recent tweet, Nithin Kamath, co-founder and CEO of Zerodha, highlighted a pressing concern regarding the condition of drinking water infrastructure. The video he shared, filmed by robots developed by Solinas, unveiled alarming levels of contamination within the pipes that supply water to homes. This revelation has sparked renewed interest in Solinas' innovative technology, particularly its robotic solutions designed to monitor and maintain water pipelines.

This is how we get our drinking water. 😬

These clips were captured by robots built by @solinas_in. These robots go inside water lines to spot leakages, contamination, and other issues, which is impossible to do humanly. pic.twitter.com/2HmRywJckE

— Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) June 25, 2024

Here's How Endodbot Works

Solinas, a Chennai-based startup established in 2018, aims to revolutionise the maintenance of large pipeline assets and sanitation systems through robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). Its flagship product, Endobot, is a pipeline crawler robot equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors. This advanced technology allows Endobot to detect leaks, illegal connections, and contamination in pipes ranging from 90mm to 1500mm in diameter.

The impact of Solinas' robots extends beyond mere detection; they play a crucial role in enabling timely interventions that prevent water loss and contamination. Implemented in more than 30 cities, Solinas' technology caters to a diverse clientele including global corporations and government bodies. Its innovative approach has garnered recognition from Indian ministries and positions Solinas as a pioneer in the WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) sector.

Partnering with Rainmatter, a venture capital firm focused on sustainable solutions, Solinas aims to scale its operations to address widespread issues such as water leakage and the inhumane practice of manual scavenging. Through its robotics and AI solutions, Solinas not only enhances operational efficiency but also promotes environmental sustainability by reducing water wastage.

Solinas' efforts have already made a significant impact, reportedly providing clean water to over 100,000 households and saving millions of litres of water daily. Its innovative approach not only safeguards public health but also offers substantial economic benefits through reduced water loss and maintenance costs.

As per Solinas, its robots are intended to help panchayats, parastatal agencies responsible for water supply, private water supply, urban local bodies, industries with effluent lines as well as non-profits.