PolyU robot cuts inspection times for CLP

Researchers at Polytechnic University say a robot co-developed with CLP is reducing the time required to inspect electricity generators by almost a week. Previously, inspections involved deploying a team of 30 people and removing a rotor inside the generators that is as heavy as two double-decker buses combined. "We can [now] deploy people to work on some other more high value jobs so that we can improve the overall operating efficiency of the power plant," said senior director of generation at CLP Kevin Lau. Professor Tam Hwa-yaw, chair professor of photonics at the university's department of electrical and electronic engineering, said the robot, which is equipped which cameras, can climb into small gaps in the generators. "The whole idea is we are hoping that together with the optical fibre sensing network and AI, we should be able to predict the potential failure of critical components," Tam said. Lau said no such robots are in use elsewhere in the world and other countries are interested in the technology. "The project is a very good demonstration that Hong Kong engineers, as well as academia, have the capability to innovate," he said. Edited by Thomas McAlinden