ANYbotics Introduces Gas Leak and Presence Detection for ANYmal Robot

ANYbotics, a company specializing in AI-driven robotic inspection solutions, has launched a new Gas Leak and Presence Detection solution for its ANYmal robot. This development is designed to assist industrial sites in identifying and managing gas leaks.

The new solution integrates modular gas detectors with a 360° acoustic imaging payload. This combination is intended to pinpoint leak sources and simultaneously measure ambient gas concentrations. The acoustic imaging camera can detect various industrial gas leaks, including steam, compressed air, vacuum, toxic gases, and hydrocarbons. It is also capable of identifying partial discharge events and mechanical anomalies. The system quantifies the rate and cost of detected losses, delivering this information into Data Navigator, ANYbotics’ inspection data and asset management platform.

Gas leaks in industrial environments, particularly fugitive gases in petrochemical plants, represent a significant issue. An undetected gas leak can lead to costs exceeding $57,000 annually for a facility, in addition to safety risks. The ANYmal robot’s new mobile acoustic imaging camera offers coverage and access to areas that may be challenging or costly to reach with traditional static sensors. This capability is intended to help inspection and maintenance teams detect more leaks and proactively identify vulnerabilities in pipework, potentially preventing future leaks and contributing to cost reductions.

The Gas Presence Detection solution features a modular design that allows users to swap in different gas detectors for various gases, such as oxygen, hydrocarbons, and ammonia, and calibrate them on-site. This flexibility enables ANYmal to continuously monitor gas concentrations around its body during both autonomous and teleoperated missions, aiming to enhance safety where static sensors might have limited coverage. The system also includes customer-configurable thresholds that trigger an alarm upon overexposure.

Traditional manual inspections can sometimes miss existing leaks or early indicators of pipework failure. These inspections may be inconsistent and infrequent, potentially allowing critical equipment to go unchecked and leading to undetected gas leaks. ANYbotics states that its new Gas Leak and Presence Detection solution aims to eliminate guesswork and human error by reliably detecting leaks regardless of size or environmental conditions, providing consistent monitoring.

Péter Fankhauser, CEO of ANYbotics, stated, “Our new Gas Leak and Presence Detection solution is a game-changer for industrial leak detection and prevention. By combining ANYmal’s autonomous navigation with modular gas detectors and a 360° acoustic imaging payload, we’re providing a powerful, flexible tool that significantly enhances safety and drives substantial cost savings for our customers. Our autonomous mobile robots can now detect the source of leaks, quantify the loss, and alert personnel in real-time. By extending coverage across the entire facility, we’re providing a level of precision and efficiency that reduces operational costs, improves safety, and lowers emissions.”

The new solution is currently being implemented in early adopter projects with ANYbotics’ industrial partners in the Energy, Metals, Mining, and Oil & Gas sectors.

Patrik d’Allens, Head of Technical Services at DSM-Firmenich, commented, “Gas Leak Detection fits into our data and maintenance strategy and gives us peace of mind so we can focus on value-creating tasks.”

ANYbotics highlights several benefits of its new Gas Leak and Presence Detection solution:

Cost Reduction: Early identification and precise localization of leaks aim to minimize product loss and energy waste, potentially leading to operational cost savings.

Complete Coverage: The combination of 360° acoustic imaging with multi-gas concentration sensing intends to provide full-site visibility, detecting leaks in complex or difficult-to-access areas.

Quantify the Cost: Beyond detection, the solution measures leak size and rate, translating losses into quantifiable cost data for financial impact assessment and prioritization.

Enhanced Safety: By detecting fugitive gases and automating inspections in hazardous areas, ANYmal aims to reduce human exposure to dangerous substances and environments, improving site safety and compliance.

Actionable Maintenance Insights: High-frequency, autonomous inspections are intended to generate trend data, supporting predictive maintenance decisions and planning for repair work.

Lower Emissions & Stronger Compliance: Proactive detection and repair of fugitive emissions are designed to help facilities meet environmental regulations and contribute to sustainability targets.

Flexible Deployment: The modular payload design allows customers to select specific sensors, such as acoustic imaging for mechanical anomalies or gas concentration sensors for hazardous concentrations, to create a tailored solution.