#Industry News
STORMER X Pipe Crawler Combines Large-Pipe RVI, Optical Zoom and Inflow Detection
Portable inspection platform adds an electric camera lift, Full HD pan-and-tilt imaging and optional dimensional measurement for pipelines from 6 to 80 inches
FIBERSCOPE has added the STORMER X Municipal Grade Pipe Crawler to its North American pipeline inspection offering, providing remote visual inspection capabilities for sewer, stormwater, culvert, and industrial pipelines ranging from 6 to 80 inches (DN150–2000).
STORMER X is designed around a steerable IP68 crawler, a Full HD pan-and-tilt camera, an electric camera elevator, a motorized cable reel, and a rugged inspection tablet.
Unlike systems designed primarily around a permanently installed CCTV vehicle, the STORMER X reel, crawler and controller form a portable wheeled assembly that can be moved to remote or restricted inspection points.
Full HD Remote Visual Inspection in Large-Diameter Pipe
The camera records 1920 × 1080 Full HD video at 30 fps and combines autofocus with 10× optical and 12× digital zoom.
Optical zoom allows the operator to examine a joint, crack or other condition at greater distance without relying entirely on digital enlargement.
For larger-diameter lines, the powered camera elevator raises the imaging head toward the pipe centerline. This helps produce a more direct view of the pipe wall and improves the operator's ability to examine conditions throughout the circumference.
The crawler also incorporates a rear-view camera, inclination measurement and automatic anti-tipping functions.
Integrated Groundwater Inflow Detection
STORMER X adds a second inspection channel beyond conventional visual data.
A groundwater inflow sensor is standard on both Base and Advanced configurations.
As the crawler travels through the line, groundwater inflow measurements can be recorded with the inspection and plotted against distance. This allows the final assessment to associate infiltration with particular pipeline sections or joints.
For wastewater utilities and engineering teams, the capability can support inflow and infiltration studies while the crawler is already performing the CCTV survey.
Dimensional Measurement for Engineering Assessment
The STORMER X Advanced Set adds laser-based measurement for:
-Internal pipe diameter
-Pipe ovality
-Crack width
-Object width
This allows inspectors to move from visual identification toward quantified condition assessment when preparing rehabilitation designs, contract inspection documentation or post-rehabilitation verification.
Portable Power and Long-Range Deployment
The STORMER X cable reel can operate from two commercial tool batteries using the battery interface specified for the customer's system, including configurations for widely used brands such as DeWalt and Milwaukee.
For fixed vehicle installations, the system can instead operate from 110–240 V AC.
The Base configuration includes 656 ft (200 m) of non-coaxial cable. The Advanced configuration includes 984 ft (300 m), while systems can be configured with working lengths of up to 1,650 ft (500 m) for longer runs.
The motorized reel incorporates automatic cable straightening, footage measurement, an adjustable one-way brake, emergency stop and removable rear control panel.
Inspection, Coding and Reporting on One Tablet
Operators control the crawler from a rugged sunlight-readable tablet with physical joysticks.
The included IKAM inspection software supports defect coding, pipeline inclination plots, dimensional data and single or batch inspection reports. Data can also be exported for downstream engineering and GIS workflows.
A second observer can connect to watch an inspection live, while remote diagnostic access can be enabled with customer permission to support troubleshooting.
Modular Mainline and Lateral Inspection
The same STORMER X crawler can accept an optional lateral-launch module.
The module is designed for 8–48 inch mains and 4–12 inch lateral lines, allowing the system to expand from mainline RVI into service-lateral inspection without replacing the core reel, tablet and inspection workflow.
“Inspection capability is only useful when crews can deploy it where the access point actually is,” FIBERSCOPE said. “STORMER X combines large-pipe imaging and measurement capability with a platform that can be moved beyond the locations normally convenient for a dedicated CCTV vehicle.”
STORMER X is manufactured by Zikmund Electronics in the Czech Republic and configured for the North American market. FIBERSCOPE provides sales, application guidance, warranty administration, repair and technical support from facilities in Canada and the United States.
Detailed specifications, configuration options and demonstration requests are available at:
About FIBERSCOPE
FIBERSCOPE is a North American provider of professional remote visual inspection equipment for pipeline, municipal, industrial and NDT applications. Founded in 2003, the company provides equipment selection, in-house testing, repair and technical support from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Woburn, Massachusetts.
