ANYmal X

The Swiss company ANYbotics has unveiled the four-legged robot ANYmal X. It is the world's first walking robot certified to work in explosive environments, according to a press release received by the editors of N + 1.

Oil, gas and chemical plants conduct regular safety inspections, but automating such monitoring is difficult in potentially hazardous environments that only machines certified for explosive atmospheres can operate. The certification guarantees that they will not cause an explosion, even if there are many combustible substances nearby.

Until now, explosive-certified robots have been slow and not mobile enough to navigate the different levels of production facilities. For example, like EXR-1, which, like most other crawler robots, is not able to overcome obstacles large in relation to its size, and climb stairs.

ANYbotics has been developing the ANYmal X with energy company Petronas since 2019. This is a version of the ANYmal four-legged robot that inherits its mobility and speed. ANYmal is 80 centimeters long, 60 wide, 70 high, can work up to 90 minutes and carry up to 15 kilograms of payload. For navigation, the robot has a lidar, six depth cameras and two wide-angle cameras. This allows him to make a three-dimensional and accurate map of the surrounding space.

ANYbotics unveiled the ANYmal X on March 21 as the world's first explosive-certified walking robot. It complies with IECEx and ATEX standards, requirements for equipment intended for use in explosive environments.

The developers have adapted the ANYmal X thermal management system in such a way as to protect all its systems from gas ignition. Another four-legged robot received impact-resistant sensors and optical systems, and the software of its control system works on different tablets.