Transmission pipelines for oil and gas require to be monitored for their maintenance and safety purposes such as to prevent the occurrence of accidents and failure of equipment. A new technology known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) technology if fast proving to be an opportunity for pipeline monitoring. Small UAVs are a smart solution as they are easily adaptable and flexible and have a reliable capacity to gather data on a smaller or medium scale. Through various trials and errors in their research and operations, UAVs have proved to be a trusted method when it comes to oil and gas pipeline monitoring.

Till present, most of the oil and gas pipeline monitoring systems in current use or undergoing development have the basis of the concept of large UAV platforms, flying at heights that allow repetitive coverage of vast areas and scanning of areas where there is a threat to security e.g. Angola-Nigeria. These are very expensive and are complicated systems that are drone-based, with most of them being military grade. The swift expansion and growth of platforms that are small in scale such as mini or micro UAV, along with sensors as a component of the UAV technology, shows a big potential for pipeline monitoring works in a complementary manner and at a more smaller and local scale. Different monitoring goal has a suitable and appropriate strategy and accordingly it uses a combination of platform and sensor.

Proposed UAV system pipeline monitoring

According to research conducted by scientists at the University of Aberdeen, using aerial drones for oil and gas pipeline monitoring could bring substantial advantages to its operators. The network of pipelines require timely and periodic inspection and monitoring for maintenance, security and safety. Pipeline monitoring is usually done by somebody checking it out physically or with the help of helicopters. However, scientists believe using drones for pipeline monitoring will bring better results especially scanning areas that are tough to reach.

The primary risk that an oil or gas pipeline poses is the possibility of a leak or spill that will affect the surrounding environment causing which will not only be disastrous but also pose a risk of an explosion. A fool-proof system for pipeline monitoring needs the usage of specific sensors that can identify any type of corrosion or rust or if the pipeline is situated underground, the presence of methane or a change in the vegetation surrounding the pipeline that show a failure.

This type of technology is fast progressing to a stage where these highly developed sensors are now fitted in compact sizes so that they can be easily mounted on a UAV. One of the many benefits of using drones is that it is possible to programme them to cover large areas in more organised manner along with reaching out to areas that are otherwise hard to access.

This is not only more cost-effective but it also provides the inspectors with a flexible answer to any problems of limited or restricted access, which may turn out to be vital in recognizing a problem. For the full development and use of this technology, certain rules will have to be in place.

However, researches show that drones have an important contribution to make when it comes to oil and gas pipeline monitoring and maintenance. Oil and gas companies are proactively working out on how to incorporate UAVs into their Intelligent Pipeline Management imitative. A considerable amount of studies for its feasibility have been conducted, but only a few cases are currently at an operational stage.

Advantages and Restrictions of UAVs for pipeline monitoring

The utilisation of small UAVs, like any other technology, have some advantages but also some restrictions for pipeline monitoring. The Pros of having small UAVs over other methods is that it has a lower cost, better safety and very reliable mission flexibility. Compared to this, ground and manned aerial surveys are further expensive and manned aerial surveys are far less secure and leave little room for flexibility.

In addition, where the UAVs cannot go further to a higher altitude due to wind factor, cloud cover or other climatological factors, small UAVs function at a relatively less height than 150m that further gives high spatial resolution images as an outcome. Also, there are also waterproof UAVs and can fly in bad weather conditions, providing a way safer alternative to manned flights in stormy weather or extreme desert-like climates.

Factors to Consider for Small UAVs

The selection of a small UAV system for oil and gas pipeline monitoring depends on a number of factors. The type and kind of information needed to complete the monitoring process is of utmost importance such as visual records of the infrastructure to be inspected, physical aspects such as temperature, etc.

The physical aspects of the area surrounding the inspection site, such as, ease of access, topography, distance, etc. pose restrictions in the case of certain systems or configurations. A few other factors such as the regulations and compatibility of the components of the UAV are also vital while considering a small UAV system for any particular monitoring operation.

Conclusions Regarding pipeline monitoring

UAV technology has a potential application when it comes to oil and gas pipeline technology. It has the capacity to provide support and also, in some cases, be a substitute for other traditional methods of pipeline monitoring. Small UAV systems are evolving rapidly as very effective tools for closely inspecting the infrastructure and for timely investigation of the environment.

Shrinking the size of specific sensors for the purpose of detection, identifying and reporting of hydrocarbon leaks, improving the battery power for missions that are of a longer duration and demand more power and development of detailed and exact rules are the current characteristics that are necessary for the complete development of this technology which is expected to be achieved soon in the future.

Unmanned vehicles are expected to undertake a variety of tasks which includes monotonous and also unsafe operations and small aerial platforms can improve security and environmental protection. In the near future, UAVs are expected to be an important aspect in oil and gas pipeline monitoring, inspection and maintenance.

Blogging can be fun and easy for not many writers but aspiring bloggers should not get intimidated. Anything can be learned by practice and persistence. A professional blogger today was an armature when he started. Yes Writing a Blog Post is an art.

Even for them, writing a blog might have been tough initially. However, those who are earning part time or full time money by blogging had persisted with their goal. Therefore, you too can if you read the following steps and implement them slowly.

Gather blogging ideas.

For new bloggers, who have no clue as to what to blog about at the outset, the most difficult part is deciding what they want to write about. The first step is to read others’ blog on varied topics.

First think of which subject most interests you and find blogs that write about them. There are several search engines that exist for blogs alone. Like any search engine. You can key in your area of interest (for example: cross country cycling) in the search box.

The most popular blog search engine is located at http://www.blogsearchengine.org 

The search engine will show a huge list of results that display blogs that have written in depth or just mentioned about ‘cross country cycling’.

You need to patiently browse through the search results and gather as many information as possible. While doing so, you must note down the URL of the web page that gave you the most satisfactory information and consider it as an authority site on the subject of your choice. This is an important exercise. It is the fundamental aspect of learning to blog.

Content Curation:

The act of gathering information on a particular topic is called ‘Content Curation’. While curating content, it is imperative that you also note down the source of the content. There are two important purposes in it.

1. Identifying authority sites
2. Citing the source in case you need to quote a piece of content in your blog post.

To continue with serious blogging, you first read and identify blogs that interests you and then start curating content on those subjects of your interest.

The third step of action is now to make use of the data you have gathered. You need to create a list of topic ideas that interest you. Then, filter them and arrange them according to the easiness to weave a blog post.

Then, make a quick outline of main points you want to include in your composition.  Initially, it might appear to be a bit tedious, but it will help you to further your writing. You better do not skip it please.

Choose a style

Now begins the real fun. You have chosen your first blog post topic, noted down the main points to include them in your blog post. After this, you will need to choose your style. I would say most of the successful blogs are written in a casual tone. I mean, it will be as if you are talking casually to invisible readers of your blog post.

Write it in first person. You must include the word ‘I” in several places of your post. A blog is said to be your online journal; therefore, the ‘I’ should be present.

Elaborate on each point;

Now, on each point you have gathered, elaborate it further by just forming a sentence or two. It is not a difficult task.

Once you have done it on your 5 or six points, you will have a blog post containing about 200 words! Wow! See, what seemed impossible for you when you used the blog search engine is now made possible.

Creating a title:

The most important task of any blog post is the title. You must create a title for your blog post. While there are hundreds of ways to choose a title, it is learned on your own as you gain experience.

Summary

Finally, we have come to the end of your blog post. You must write a brief summary of your blog post. It should contain what you have written about in three or four sentences.

Proof reading

This is a crucial step. Without proofreading your content, never hit the ‘publish’ button however confident you are about your typing.

Casual blogging

Till now, I have addressed only those who are serious about their blogging career. However, if you are choosing to start your blog as your personal online diary, you certainly do not need to go through the above two points.  You straightaway start composing your blog post as your personal thoughts or opinions and hit the ‘publish’ button and voila! You have just created your digital foot print.

Bose is American corporation well know for designing and developing audio equipments. Bose is well versed for its profession audio systems, high quality speakers, home audio system and noise cancelling headphones. Bose sound link devices are wireless portable speaker which uses a wireless connection to play audio from computer or an smart phone. The wireless technology used here is primarily Bluetooth. These wireless speakers are known for its light weight and for producing a high quality sound. The new Bose Sound link revolve and revolve+ by Bose corporation is an wireless speaker which uses Bluetooth technology.

These speakers are priced at 330$ and 400$. The new Sound link Revolve and Revolve+ speaker are cylindrically shaped and is built of good quality aluminum. The speaker enclosed in a sleek aluminum cylindrical body really catches the users eye. The main plus of the speaker is the eye catching design and it gives an premium look to these speakers as well as its brand. These speakers come in two color schemes Triple Black and Grey.

The speakers provide loud and high quality sound the speakers gives an uniform coverage in the speaker placed environment. These speakers has an combining dual opposing passive radiators which is powerful and the ultra efficient transducer which is placed face down and the new patented acoustic deflector. An quarter twenty thread is positioned at the bottom of the speaker which makes the user easy to mount them on a tripod for music playback. There are small buttons placed on top of the speaker which helps the uses to control music playback and volume.

This wireless speaker comes with an IPX4 Rating which withstands rain, water splashes, regular drops and bumps. The speaker weigh around 1.5 pounds which make it light weight and this also makes it easy to be carried around. The speaker is 6 inch long and Revolve features a 12 hour of continuous battery life where as the Revolve+ is bigger and weighs nearly 2 pounds and features an 16 hour continuous battery life the increased weight results in an increase of its battery life. The Revolve and Revolve+ uses Bluetooth and NFC to pair with devices it also features an small integrated microphone to be used as an speaker phone or with SIRI and Google Assistant. These speakers use an micro B usb port for charging.

The Bose connect app is an app which is developed by Bose corporation which makes it easy to connect the speaker from your smart phone an important feature of this app is that it can be used to connect two or more speakers together and play music without skipping a beat. Bose says that instruments and vocals in an song will be naturally separated and will make your music feel alive while listening.

The main disadvantage of this product is that it is priced too high but still this product gives us an high quality sound texture and good bass.

In general people who love hearing music in high quality will probably like this speaker as it is light and small which makes it easy to be carried around and this speaker has an premium look which really catches everyone’s eyes.

In this modern with the emergence of highly captivating performance tools and apps we have grown highly sceptical about our own performance. Our body is designed to work at certain levels and overreaching it doesn’t usually turns up good results. It isn’t possible to improve upon the average running pace or other workouts without required amount of training over a certain period of time. In order to get over these shackles researchers at Harvard University had come up with a highly sophisticated and futuristic kind of Exosuit.

A Exosuit to power your performance

This robotic exosuit is designed to reduce the metabolic cost on the body to great extent to improve up on the overall performance of a human body. In short it aids in bringing the ideas or dream of high performance right into the reality by simply arming a person with a performance boosting exosuit.

Running is described as a costly form of movement which happens to put huge strain on the body. The new soft robotic exosuit technology designed by researchers brings an ideal platform for the assisted running which can be brought to wider masses in near future. Herein users have to wear an exosuit which is made up of textile. It is extremely lightweight so the body doesn’t bear the additional burden while running around. It comes loaded with flexible wires which connect to the apparel placed at the back of the thigh and an actuation unit is placed in the waist belt. When a person runs wearing then the robotic exosuit jumps into the action aids in running by applying force to the legs at each stride.

Testing and Development of the exosuit

Researchers had tested this suit on two distinctly different assistant profiles as well as the patterns of wire pulling. Their testing was based on two aspects one being the human biology interacting with the applied force and another was simply a simulation of the exoskeleton assisted running.

It was found that when force is applied on the running stride on the person going through the simulation then it happened to outperform the biology based profile to a great extent. The simple reason attributed towards this success was given to the fact that it helped in reducing the metabolic cost by quite a number of factors.

The future prospects of the battery powered exosuit

We are not going to see the emergence of popularity of the battery powered exosuit right at the moment and it might even take quite a while before it is brought to the consumers. Researchers has stated that the technology being used to power the exosuit and to derive better performance out of it is still going through development phase and it will take few more years before it is perfected.  But their study has already shown that in future companies will be able to leverage the experience and expertise of the robotic exosuit to the wearable technology as well as biometrics. It will help in improving upon the human performance wherever required thereby showcasing widest variety of application.