Expertise — Harsh-Environment Robotics
Harsh-Environment Robotics
Robots and drones that work where people shouldn't go, from explosive atmospheres (ATEX) to confined, hot, dusty or wet spaces.
Discuss your project →Inspecting and maintaining tanks, vessels, boilers, pipes, sewers or mines usually means scaffolding, shutdowns and people entering hazardous spaces. Robots can do it faster and safer, but only if they are designed for the environment from the start, whether that means an explosive atmosphere, no GPS, heat, dust, water or constant collisions.
What we do
- Inspection robots, crawlers and drones for confined and hazardous spaces
- Explosion-protected design for ATEX/IECEx zones (Ex i, Ex d, Ex p, Ex m)
- Ruggedised mechanics, sealing and ingress protection
- Thermal management for hot or enclosed environments
- Collision-tolerant structures and protective cages
- Navigation without GPS using LiDAR and visual SLAM
- Inspection payloads (visual, thermal, ultrasonic thickness, gas sensing) and lighting
- Tethered power and data links
- Preparation of the certification path with notified bodies
Typical deliverables
- Mission and environment requirements
- System architecture and protection concept
- Mechanics, drive and electronics design
- Control, navigation and payload software
- Prototypes and field-test reports
- Technical documentation for certification
Frequently asked questions
Can an existing robot or drone be made ATEX-compliant?+
Rarely in a cost-effective way. Protection concepts affect batteries, motors, electronics and enclosures, so they must be designed in from the beginning. We can assess an existing platform in a feasibility study.
Which hazardous zones do you design for?+
The target zone (gas or dust, zone 0/1/2 or 20/21/22) is defined with you at the start, since it determines the protection concept and the certification effort.
Do you only build drones?+
No. We choose the platform that fits the mission, whether that is a drone, a crawler, a tethered tool or a fixed manipulator.
Have a mechatronic challenge?
Tell us about your project. We are happy to sign an NDA before any technical discussion.