Charged with maintaining critical infrastructure in Horsham Township, Pennsylvania, Public Works Director Dennis Haggerty wanted a cost-effective and flexible option to examine stormwater pipes to help prevent flooding and erosion.
“We hired outside contractors in the past, but it’s expensive,” he said. “We borrowed a camera, but it wasn’t ideal.”
He realized that a custom video inspection robot wouldn’t just wash up in his office, so when he learned Penn State Abington students earn degrees from the Penn State College of Engineering, he contacted a faculty member with a proposal.
“I thought this could be good for everyone. We form a partnership with Abington students who get to test their skills in real-life situations, and we get the video robot,” Haggerty said.