Andrew Blight

About

Andrew Blight is a robotics researcher whose work focuses on the design and autonomous control of miniature robots for confined-space inspection, particularly in small-diameter pipe networks. His major contributions address the limitations of traditional tethered inspection systems by developing tether-less, miniaturized platforms capable of autonomous navigation. Blight’s most cited work, “Autonomous control for miniaturized mobile robots in unknown pipe networks” (2022, 29 citations), introduces a robot that overcomes the range and accessibility constraints of tethered cables, reducing deployment costs. He further advances the field with innovations in 3D-printed, non-assembly walking mechanisms using hexapod gaits (2022, 6 citations), enabling rapid, low-cost prototyping. His recent work integrates TinyML for resource-efficient in-pipe feature detection (2025, 4 citations), enhancing autonomous perception in small-diameter pipes. Blight’s collaborative project, the Mega-Joey robot (2025, 3 citations), demonstrates autonomous, multi-robot inspection of UK sewer systems, showcasing practical infrastructure assessment. His research combines mechanical design, embedded machine learning, and multi-agent coordination, offering scalable solutions for hazardous environment exploration.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Autonomous control for miniaturized mobile robots in unknown pipe networks

   29 citations · 2022
2. 2
   Non-Assembly 3D-Printed Walking Mechanism Utilising a Hexapod Gait

   6 citations · 2022
3. 3
   TinyML-Based In-Pipe Feature Detection for Miniature Robots

   4 citations · 2025
4. 4
   Autonomous, Collaborative, and Confined Infrastructure Assessment with Purpose-Built Mega-Joey Robots

   3 citations · 2025

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links