Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) has teamed up with Gecko Robotics, a local technology engineering company, as part of PIT's bridge program, the airport's innovation hub. This partnership has introduced cutting-edge technology to enhance the construction of PIT's new terminal.
Gecko Robotics, headquartered in Pittsburgh, specializes in using state-of-the-art technology to collect critical data about large physical structures, such as power plants, ships, bridges, and more. They can perform these tasks at a scale and speed that was previously unimaginable. Gecko's software processes the collected data, assisting a wide range of customers, including the U.S. military, energy suppliers, manufacturing companies, and now PIT, in ensuring the reliability of their crucial assets.
The collaboration with xBridge allowed Gecko to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the new terminal's fire safety systems, focusing specifically on the sensor technology used to assess the building's signature metal "tree" columns that provide structural support.
Robert Petro, Gecko's senior regional manager, expressed his excitement about the project, saying, "I knew right away hearing 'steel' and 'interfacing of concrete' that we had a solution." In essence, Gecko's technology can unveil imperfections that the human eye cannot perceive.
The 32 columns in question consist of vertical steel components with outward-reaching branches, most of which have four sub-branches. Contractors need to ensure that concrete is evenly distributed throughout each branch. However, because the columns are not transparent, contractors can't visually confirm if the concrete has filled every part of the branches. Gecko's solution employs a sonar-like approach to identify any air pockets in the concrete from the exterior.
The unique sensor technology, developed by Olson Engineering, has been integrated into Gecko's automated robotics systems and their analytical decision-making software. Petro explains the technology further, saying, "We're almost using something like you would see in a movie, like on a submarine. It's an echo sound wave, and it's listening, so it's sending that wave in, and it's going through the interface to the exterior."
With Gecko's integrated sensor technology, the construction team can precisely measure and collect data about the concrete supporting the vertical steel tree columns of the new terminal. This innovative approach guarantees the highest quality and safety standards during the construction of PIT's groundbreaking new airport terminal.
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