The article shows a picture of the device you are referring to vs these machines, these are much smaller and would effectively live in the pipes, so measuring rotations or string length won't work. They are also working on an injectable sealant that can be used before the cracks become leaks.
platonicgryphon t1_j2jq16f wrote
Reply to comment by JudgeHoltman in Water pipe robots could stop billions of litres leaking by Sariel007
The article shows a picture of the device you are referring to vs these machines, these are much smaller and would effectively live in the pipes, so measuring rotations or string length won't work. They are also working on an injectable sealant that can be used before the cracks become leaks.