Outdoor explosion-proof refuelling robot begins operating in China
12 January 2022
(Credit: CNPC)
On December 29, the Lhasa Airport Express Oil Station in China's Tibet region welcomed the country's first high-altitude outdoor explosion-proof refuelling robot. The intelligent robot, developed by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), is able to autonomously locate and open a fuel tank cap on a car before filling the vehicle with fuel.
"As long as the consumer enters the amount of refuelling on the mobile app, the robot can accurately locate and open the fuel tank cap. The driver does not need to get out of the car during the whole process of refuelling, and automatic refuelling is realised," Guo Zhen, a staff member of CNPC, said. From entering the station, refuelling, to exiting the station, the driver does not need to get out of the car, the only action required is operating an app on their phone to complete the order.
This application test work of the outdoor explosion-proof refuelling robot and intelligent identification gun-lifting technology in the high-altitude and low-temperature environment was developed through cooperation between CNPC Tibet Sales Company, Kunlun Digital & Intelligent and Jiangyin Furen High-Tech.
"The refuelling robot and intelligent identification gun-lifting technology put into test today can adapt to the working environment of ultra-low temperature, high altitude and strong ultraviolet rays, and work around the clock. The equipment has obtained explosion-proof certification, which has high safety and improves the safety level of gas stations," CNPC Feng Shukun, General Manager of Tibet Sales Company, said.
The outdoor explosion-proof refuelling robot uses a combination of 2D and 3D vision for positioning, and is designed based on a movable three-dimensional platform. It features a collaborative robotic arm that reduces the risk of personal injury. The integrated design of the oiler and the oil gun, and the core components, are designed to cope with low temperature, high altitude and strong ultraviolet rays.
CNPC Tibet Company has also developed the intelligent identification gun lifting technology. On the basis of the original refuelling gun, special structures such as gun lifting identification and identity authentication have been added to ensure that the oil is stopped when the gun is pulled abnormally, and the oil gun can be prevented from spraying out of the fuel tank mouth during the refuelling process. At the same time, through the linkage of a safe refuelling control system, the emission of oil and gas during the start and stop of refuelling is further strictly controlled, and the environmental protection capability is improved.
"The technology of refuelling robots and intelligent identification of guns has been put into use in the plateau environment, providing consumers with a new consumption experience. This is also an important part of the innovation-driven development strategy," said Lorsong Zering, Office Director of the Energy Research Centre of the Tibet Autonomous Region Science and Technology Department.
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