ANYbotics launches end-to-end inspection solution

Up-to-date and reliable data on the equipment's health is essential for effective and efficient industrial operations. In a condition monitoring process, inspection data is collected and analysed, and provides the insights to trigger corrective actions to optimise operational uptime, performance, and quality. Even with Internet of Things (IoT) devices, full inspection coverage cannot be reached, as fixed-installed sensors will at some point stop scaling – both with regards to installation efforts and device cost. For this reason, plant operators manually perform routine inspection rounds multiple times a day, often in unpleasant or potentially hazardous settings. Fortunately, robotics technology has matured in recent years to provide an automated and fully digital inspection solution.

“We have different inspection tours in our plant – some take place daily, some even several times a day, to ensure the plant’s condition. We intend to increase the inspection quality through automated documentation without installing additional sensors on-site,” said Felix Volkmann, Asset Manager, BASF.

It is no surprise that people are only these days seeing mobile robots conquer sites in the energy, processing, and construction industries. These environments consist of complex structures with steep stairs and tight spaces unsuited for traditional wheel- and track-based robots. Walking robots represent a unique alternative to reliably navigate these facilities. Modern four-legged vehicles can traverse rugged terrain that is built for humans. However, mobility is not the only challenge. A robotic inspection solution must work autonomously and provide the sensors and intelligence to detect any irregularities with the equipment or infrastructure. According to a recent SPRINT Robotics survey, the complexity of this full integration in the existing processes is currently one of the major barriers to the adoption of robotic inspection.

ANYbotics has been working with industrial customers for the last 5 years to enable the integration of robotics in their inspection routines. ANYbotics is now launching its first certified commercial product as part of its integrated end-to-end robotic inspection solution. The new ANYmal D legged robot provides users an autonomous system with advanced condition monitoring capabilities. Out of the box, the robot provides large-scale autonomy, including obstacle avoidance and self-charging via a docking station for routine inspection tasks without human interaction. The pan-tilt inspection unit features high-end sensors for accurate and reliable visual, thermal, and acoustic measurements, as well as inspection intelligence software covering some of the most relevant industrial inspection tasks. Built for harsh environments, the robot is IP67 water- and dust-proof ingress protected for use in indoor and outdoor environments in all weather conditions.

“Without a doubt, the collaboration with ANYbotics got my team thinking differently about maintenance and inspection. We see significant potential for an autonomous mobile robot to standardise our protocols and improve the quality of the data we’re collecting,” commented Rolf Claude, Head Engineering Services – RAM/LCC, Stadler Services AG.

Adopting a robotic workforce can be a daunting task for operators, as the journey can be long and difficult if not set up correctly. ANYbotics has been building up the resources, tools, and support services to enable successful robot commissioning and onboarding. Acting as a single point-of-contact, ANYbotics' experts closely work with the customer in evaluating the tasks to be automated and prepare the organisation for the deployment of autonomous mobile inspection robots. The team checks the feasibility and impact in simulations, on-site demonstrations, and long-term pilot deployments. Once the implementation roadmap is established, the team trains and supports the customer in commissioning and scaling the system throughout their facilities.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/product-news/21042021/anybotics-launches-end-to-end-inspection-solution/