THE INNOVATORS
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Pipe Trek: Deep Trekker's Hi-Tech Inspection Robots
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vehicle lines, and customers in over 80 countries around the world. Deep Trekker introduced its first pipe crawler system, the DT340, in 2016 and saw huge success within the municipal water industry. Deep Trekker’s business model is based on interacting with customers and adopting feedback to enhance its products. “Customer feedback is our numberone focus,” says Cody Warner, a business development lead. The DT340 received positive reviews for its portability, effectiveness, and ease of use. The DT340 can fit into a pipe as small as 8 inches or as large as 36 inches in diameter and perform Pipeline Assessment Certification Program inspections with a camera head in the center of the pipe. The DT340 can be customized to include various attachments, depending on the project at hand. Customers worked with Deep Trekker to help facilitate the introduction of a smaller pipe crawler, the DT320 Mini Pipe Crawler, which can fit into pipes as small as 6 inches in diameter. The company began shipping units in August 2018. Deep Trekker prides itself in providing affordable units. The DT340 starts at just under $13,000 and, depending on the package and attachments, caps at approximately $50,000. The DT320 comes with all the attachments and options necessary for a 6- to 12-inch pipe and sells at a flat cost of $26,000. Deep Trekker has sold several hundred units of the DT340 since 2016, and orders are already rolling in for the DT320. MUNICIPAL WATER LEADER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEEP TREKKER.
very man-made structure eventually wears out. Municipal pipelines—some of which are more than 100 years old—are no exception. As infrastructure ages, the risk of breaks, cracks, and leaks grows. By conducting frequent routine inspections, cities and municipalities can discover issues before they become serious problems. To make sure that their pipelines meet regulatory requirements and performance standards, cities and municipalities are turning to trenchless technology, including pipe crawlers. Deep Trekker is one company that is developing new ways to make inspections simple, efficient, and more cost effective. Deep Trekker’s pipe crawlers are portable robotic systems with onboard cameras that allow for regular maintenance and inspections on pipes 6 inches in diameter and larger. Deep Trekker is a leader in the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) industry, providing various portable ROVs and pipe crawler systems to a wide variety of industries around the world. In 2003, founder and chief executive officer Jeff Lotz designed and built an ROV called the DTG1, including all its mechanical and electrical components. In 2011, he followed it up with a second low-cost, high-quality ROV, the DTG2, which was designed with ease of use, reliability, and portability in mind. Deep Trekker sold its first unit in 2011 and has since grown from a small company building robots in Mr. Lotz’s basement to a company with over 40 employees, six robotic
