In 2019, VVLAI developed the QY195 Canal Dredging Robot specifically for the Middle Route of China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project, one of the country’s most important national water infrastructure initiatives.
The project aimed to replace conventional manual dredging methods and traditional dredging equipment with an intelligent underwater cleaning solution capable of operating without interrupting water delivery. By enabling continuous dredging during normal canal operation, the project established a new benchmark for intelligent maintenance of large-scale water transfer infrastructure and marked VVLAI’s successful entry into the national strategic water conservancy sector.
As a critical national water transfer corridor, the Middle Route Project operates continuously to provide water resources across multiple regions. Traditional dredging methods typically require service interruptions, making them unsuitable for routine maintenance operations.
Dredging activities had to be carried out without causing sediment dispersion, water quality degradation, or secondary pollution. Maintaining the cleanliness and safety of the water supply system was a top priority throughout the project.
The operational scope included a variety of maintenance challenges, such as:
-Large-scale canal sediment accumulation
-Inverted siphon blockages
-Debris accumulation at water diversion structures
-Sediment buildup within flood discharge facilities
These diverse scenarios required a highly adaptable solution capable of operating efficiently across multiple infrastructure environments.
The project successfully introduced a new maintenance model that allows underwater dredging operations to be performed without interrupting water transfer activities, significantly improving operational efficiency and infrastructure availability.
The QY195 Canal Dredging Robot was specifically designed to meet the unique operational requirements of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, demonstrating VVLAI’s ability to deliver customized engineering solutions for complex infrastructure applications.
The project established a new standard for environmentally responsible underwater maintenance by combining intelligent robotics, remote operation, and closed-loop sediment handling technologies.
To meet the stringent requirements of the project, VVLAI independently developed the QY195 Canal Dredging Robot, a specialized underwater maintenance platform designed for continuous operation in large-scale water conveyance systems.
The system was engineered to fully comply with canal operating standards while providing broad adaptability across multiple maintenance scenarios, including canal cleaning, siphon dredging, debris removal, and flood structure maintenance.
The QY195 is operated remotely from the surface, eliminating the need for personnel to enter hazardous underwater environments. This approach improves operational safety while enabling efficient and precise dredging activities.
The robot incorporates a fully integrated process that combines:
-Sediment removal
-On-site dewatering
-Enclosed material transport
This closed-loop operation ensures that dredging activities remain fully controlled, preventing sediment dispersion and eliminating the risk of secondary water pollution.
Unlike conventional dredging methods, the QY195 supports continuous mobile dredging operations while the canal remains in service. This enables routine sediment removal, debris clearance, and obstruction management without disrupting water transfer operations.
The project successfully completed routine dredging operations across key sections of the main canal, water diversion facilities, and flood discharge structures, helping maintain the long-term safety and efficiency of the water transfer system.
By introducing unmanned underwater dredging without water supply interruption, VVLAI helped create an innovative maintenance approach for large-scale water infrastructure projects.
The successful deployment of the QY195 validated VVLAI’s “Customized Development + Scenario-Based Service” model, proving its effectiveness in addressing highly specialized operational requirements.
The environmentally friendly dredging process minimized ecological impact while maintaining water quality, providing a sustainable solution for long-term infrastructure maintenance.
The South-to-North Water Diversion Project Underwater Dredging Project represents a milestone in the application of intelligent underwater robotics for national water infrastructure maintenance.
Through the successful development and deployment of the QY195 Canal Dredging Robot, VVLAI delivered an innovative, environmentally responsible, and highly efficient dredging solution that enabled continuous operation of one of China’s most important water transfer systems. The project demonstrates VVLAI’s capability to develop specialized robotic technologies that solve complex engineering challenges while supporting the long-term sustainability of critical infrastructure.
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