Aurélien Fleurot 7:32 a.m., January 7, 2023

The French start-up, present at the French pavilion of the Las Vegas technology fair, the CES, won three innovation prizes for its autonomous robot capable of inspecting water pipes.

An unprecedented technology that could quickly become a solution to avoid waste.

It is the stand of the French pavilion which is always full.

The yellow and black caterpillar robot from the start-up Acwa Robotics is a real eye-catcher.

And for good reason: it is a gem of technology, multi-award winning.

"Our robot is a sort of 90 centimeter mechanical caterpillar made up of three blocks. The way it moves is particular: it unhooks its arms at the front, it unfolds. It unhooks its arms at the At the back, it folds up and then it unfolds. Like a caterpillar in fact. It moves by crawling inside the pipe", describes Élise Lengrand, research and development engineer at Acwa Robotics.

>> READ ALSO -

 CES in Las Vegas: Peugeot unveils its new vehicle concept

Detect leaks to avoid waste

It is equipped with sensors and cameras to be able to detect corrosion and identify leaks.

This is where its function lies, since it is crucial information for water network managers.

"It is extremely expensive today to renew the pipes. In fact, you have to know exactly where it will be relevant to renew. Because today, on average in the world, it is 30% of the drinking water which is lost in the networks between drinking water and the consumer", explains the engineer.

Acwa Robotics will launch its first robots in less than a year on the Provence canal after successful tests in Corsica.

And of course, the French nugget does not lose sight of a potential launch in other countries, after this success at CES.