Action Groups & Task Forces

The SPRINT Robotics Action Groups defined are four areas that have the highest priority for improvement within the Inspection and Maintenance domain, as defined by the SPRINT Program Committee (asset owners/operators) and reflected in the SPRINT Robotics Strategic Roadmap.

The Action Groups focus on tangible results and an accelerated yet responsible adoption of robotic technologies. Each Action Group is led by an end user; members are from the whole value chain, including a.o. end users, service providers and technology providers. There are four SPRINT Robotics Action Groups: Storage Tanks, Pressure Vessels, Remote Operators and Process Piping.

In 2020, the Task Force Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance was launched on behalf of several subject matter experts from major oil & gas and petrochemical companies to accelerate the development and utilization of Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance.

Action Group Storage Tanks

AGST Coordinator: Nader Sharara (Suncor)

The AGST group is a diverse group of asset owners, robotic developers, and service suppliers which allows us to stay up to date on developments and support one another in the journey of robotic use cases for integrity assessment of Aboveground Storage Tanks.

In line with the SPRINT Robotics Roadmap we publish and maintain industry publications that further support and guide robotic use cases for Industry application. Internally through our diverse backgrounds,  we share experiences of robotic deployments to further speed up technology adoption and promote further enhancement of integrity assessment practices. The group is actively involved in validation testing of robotic applications to ensure integrity threats are managed for robotic use cases.

Action Group Process Piping

AGPP Coordinator: Jürgen Moors (BASF)

The AGPP allows the whole value chain to come together and to tackle the complex issues concerning inspection and maintenance of process piping. It is a very diverse picture where creativity and cooperation are the only road to success. The AGPP creates exactly that environment in the larger set-up of SPRINT Robotics.

Action Group Remote Operators

AGRO Coordinator: Ted Manning (BP)

The intrinsic value of the action group stems from both the participation of the members and the support and resources of the SPRINT Robotics team. A curated source of use cases, knowledge sharing, and technology roadmapping in the action group will enable and accelerate the uptake of robotic solutions.

Action Group Pressure Vessels

AGPV Coordinator: Mauricio Calva (Chevron)

The out-of-service guidelines are being utilized by our Collaborative. The complement, our technology landscape document, is currently underway and will be the second half of the comprehensive pressure vessel inspection guidelines. To help further identify value for robotic consideration, the comparison report for manual man-entry methods versus robotic systems is also being circulated for comment. Together these three documents will become the foundation for robotic systems as they are applied to pressure vessels today and in the future.

Task Force Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance

Task Force Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance

In 2020, the Task Force Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance was launched on behalf of several subject matter experts from major oil & gas and petrochemical companies to accelerate the development and utilization of Cleaning & Fabric Maintenance. Their first initiative was the CFM Challenge: five challenge categories, with one winning solution provider to receive $50,000 and the opportunity to further develop the solution.

Task Force Funding

Funding is essential for acceleration within the I&M Robotics domain. We look to establish innovative ways to support collaborative industry initiatives within SPRINT Robotics. In looking towards the future, we want to ensure that I&M Robotics is a recognized application area for government and private funding.