ANYbotics AG has launched ANYmal X, which it says is the world’s first legged inspection robot certified for explosive environments. The Swiss robotics company said it carried out a full ignition-risk assessment across the robot’s service life and applied safety measures to every potential ignition source, with each component designed to minimize ignition risk.
The AI computer and inspection equipment are enclosed in sealed, nitrogen-filled compartments, ANYbotics said. Non-metallic housings insulate metal parts, conductive feet provide grounding, and an automatic cut-off system monitors temperature. All 12 foot actuators and their batteries are protected by fireproof enclosures. Charging and data transfer employ energy barriers so they do not come into contact with hazardous areas.
Onboard software monitors the robot’s status before, during and after each mission, the company said. It has also tested durability against impact, vibration, corrosion, solar radiation and salt spray to ensure safeguards hold up during normal use. The four-legged robot is built to meet strict safety standards for oil, gas and chemical facilities and runs an advanced industrial AI stack to perform routine autonomous inspections in environments hazardous to humans, ANYbotics said.
“ANYmal X is the result of four years of pioneering engineering and more than 10 patents,” co-founder and CEO Péter Fankhauser said. “Many experts believed legged robots would never be safe in explosive environments.” He added: “Oil, gas and chemical plants are among the most dangerous and costly operations. That makes them a prime target for physical and industrial AI, but until now, robots for these critical sectors have been out of reach. That changes today.”
ANYbotics, spun out of ETH Zurich in 2016, said its ANYmal robots and Shift operations platform automate routine inspections across industries, protect personnel from harm and turn inspection data into maintenance actions. Backed by more than $150 million from leading European and Silicon Valley investors, ANYbotics employs roughly 200 staff across Zurich, San Francisco and Barcelona.
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