The problem
Tank shells need checking. Reaching them is the hard part.
The steel shells of crude, fuel, water and chemical storage tanks lose thickness to corrosion. Checking them today means people working at height, and that is the most dangerous part of the job.
Access costs more than the inspection
Access platforms and rope access up a tank shell take time to set up, and someone still has to climb.
Manual readings take a long time
Inspectors take thickness readings by hand, point by point, so surveying a tank shell is slow work.
Spot checks leave gaps
Manual readings cover only part of the surface, so thinning between points can be missed.
Safety impact
Send the robot up. Keep people on the ground.
Every inspection done from the ground removes that exposure.
| Access platforms / rope access | With KRWL | |
|---|---|---|
| People at height | Inspectors climb or hang from ropes for the whole survey | Nobody. The operator stays at the base |
| Setup | Platform erection or rope rigging, permits and rescue plan | Place the robot on the wall and start |
| Readings | Taken by hand, point by point, which takes a long time | Taken continuously as the robot drives |
| Coverage | Spot readings at reachable points | Continuous readings along each lane |
| Records | Hand-written or typed up after the job | Every reading logged with its position, live |
The robot
Watch it scan. Then open it up.
Follow KRWL across a steel wall lane by lane, then see it taken apart: wheels, drive, frame, electronics and probe module.
Exploded view: parts
Model exported from our current CAD, with hidden parts removed. Scan data is illustrative.
How it works
Cling. Crawl. Inspect.
KRWL handles the climbing; the operator watches the results come in from the ground.
Clamps to the steel
Magnetic wheels hold KRWL against flat ferrous steel, with no suction or tether needed for grip.
Drives the surface
The operator steers it across the wall from the ground, following a planned path over the area to survey.
Scans as it drives
A spring keeps the probe shoe pressed on the steel while KRWL drives lane by lane, measuring continuously with a 5 MHz ultrasonic probe. Water couplant flows under the shoe, fed through a 5 m tether from a pump on the ground. It moves into the next lane in a smooth S-curve, steering about 45°, without breaking the scan.
System architecture
What's inside, and how it connects
The main controller drives the wheels, moves the probe, reads each measurement and streams it to the operator over a wireless link.
Operator view
Every reading, mapped and graded
Readings are placed on a map of the wall and graded against nominal thickness, so problem areas stand out straight away.
| Point | Position | Thickness | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-01 | 0.40, 1.20 m | 9.8 mm | PASS |
| A-02 | 0.80, 1.20 m | 9.1 mm | PASS |
| C-09 | 1.80, 0.60 m | 8.2 mm | FLAG |
| D-11 | 2.20, 0.40 m | 6.9 mm | FAIL |
Illustrative data showing the interface. Not measurements from a real asset.
Specifications
KRWL at a glance
Product data of record. A figure in [ ] has not been measured yet; estimates are labelled as estimates.
Roadmap
Where KRWL stands
What the prototype already does, and the next steps toward a field-ready inspection tool.
Built
- Position trackingPlaces every reading on the map
- Inspection reportsExports each survey as a report
- Semi-autonomous operationThe operator supervises from the ground
Next
- Field trialsTesting on a real storage tank with an industry partner
- A more flexible robotHandling curved surfaces and high weld seams
- AI integrationAdding AI to the KRWL platform
The team
INCEPT
FAQ
Questions we get asked
Something else on your mind? Ask us at the stand or leave your details below.
Which tanks can KRWL inspect?
Aboveground carbon-steel storage tanks: the steel shell of oil, fuel, water and chemical tanks. It cannot climb aluminium, most stainless-steel, concrete or fibreglass tanks, because they are not magnetic.
How does it stay on the wall?
Its wheels are magnetic, so the robot is pulled against the steel all the time without suction or power-hungry fans.
Does the tank have to be emptied or shut down?
Not for an external survey in most cases. KRWL works from the outside of the wall, so assets can often stay in service, depending on the site's own safety rules.
What happens if it loses grip?
In tests and demos the robot is used with safety measures in place around the test wall. A fall-arrest tether is standard practice for field use.
Is KRWL a product I can buy?
Not yet. It is a graduation project prototype. We are looking for sponsors and industry partners for field trials, so get in touch if you'd like to work with us.