This study reviews the research and application advancements of pipeline robots in oil and gas pipelines. Oil and gas pipelines, as critical infrastructure for global energy transportation, have historically posed safety hazards such as corrosion and cracks, necessitating efficient and precise inspection and maintenance technologies. Traditional manual inspection methods and mechanical equipment are insufficient to address the modern demands for efficiency and accuracy in oil and gas pipeline systems. Pipeline robots, leveraging the integration of mechatronic technology, intelligent control systems, and advanced detection methods, are emerging as vital tools for pipeline inspection and maintenance. This paper categorizes and compares pipeline robots from multiple perspectives, analyzes the principles, tasks, and application scenarios of different robot types, and assesses their adaptability in oil and gas pipeline environments. It particularly summarizes the key technologies of pipeline robots, including defect detection technologies, pipeline adaptability technologies, navigation and localization technologies and energy supply technologies. The article concludes by outlining potential future directions for pipeline robot technology, highlighting that innovative robot design and intelligent technologies will provide more efficient solutions for the safe inspection and maintenance of oil and gas pipelines, thereby advancing pipeline integrity management technology.
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Xu et al. (2025) studied this question.
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