The four-legged inspection robot ANYmal X is designed to take over inspection rounds in oil, gas and chemical plants where there is a risk of explosion. The first units go to Equinor and DSM-Firmenich.
The Zurich company ANYbotics, spun off from ETH Zurich in 2016, has started delivering the ANYmal X. The four-legged robot is built for inspection rounds in plants where an explosive atmosphere can form. According to the manufacturer, it is designed to meet the requirements of ATEX in Europe and IECEx worldwide.
To keep any ignition source away from the surrounding gas, the computers and measuring equipment sit in sealed chambers filled with nitrogen. All twelve joint drives and the battery are housed in flameproof enclosures, while charging and data transfer run through energy barriers. Development took four years, and CEO Péter Fankhauser speaks of more than ten patents.
Energy companies testing since 2023
The first units go to the Norwegian energy company Equinor and to DSM-Firmenich. In an early access programme, BP, Shell, Petrobras, BASF and SLB among others have used the robot onshore and offshore since 2023. ANYmal X is controlled via the Shift platform, which can be connected to SAP and to systems from Yokogawa and SLB. ANYbotics does not disclose prices or quantities.
For operators of chemical and energy plants this is an interesting step, because inspection rounds in hazardous areas have so far been done almost entirely by people.