Robotic device and method for gathering soil data along pipelines using smart sensors

A method of gathering soil data along a trajectory comprising:

• configuring a crawler apparatus having a body that houses a processor that is configured with instructions for controlling the apparatus, memory, a GPS module and a motor coupled to the processor to move automatically along the trajectory;
• obtaining soil data via a plurality of flexible smart sensors included in a pair of continuous tracks coupled to the crawler body and rotatable through a coupling with the motor, the continuous tracks including planar sections that hold the plurality of flexible smart sensors that are each configured to detect and store data concerning at least one property or condition of the soil when the apparatus moves over the soil along the trajectory, wherein the flexible smart sensors are resilient when subjected to bending forces when the continuous tracks move along the soil;
• and
• transmitting the obtained soil data from the flexible sensors for storage,
• wherein at least two of the plurality of smart sensors are embedded in a first of the pair of continuous tracks, with one of the at least two sensors being embedded in one planar section of the first continuous track and another of the at least two sensors being embedded in another planar section of the first continuous track, and wherein another two of the plurality of sensors are embedded in a second of the pair of continuous tracks, with one of at the least two other sensors being embedded in one planar section of the second continuous track and another of the at least two sensors being embedded in another planar section of the second continuous track.