Robotics collaboration develops inspection solution for hazardous areas
29 April 2022
Two robotics companies have collaborated to develop a robot capable of inspecting mining infrastructure, improving safety by removing the need for a human to conduct dangerous inspections. Australian companies Nexxis and Blueprint Labs have combined with the former’s software and technology with the latter’s robotic arms to produce an inspection robot for harsh environments.
Image: Nexxis
Blueprint Lab’s Reach Alpha, one of the world’s smallest underwater robotic arms, has been used by petrochemical companies to inspect and maintain assets in the past, mainly in subsea environments, but with the addition of Nexxis’ software, it is now capable of even more and will now be used for onshore facilities in Western Australia and Texas, US. Other industries such as chemical, oil & gas, mining, and renewables will now also be able to use the robot to conduct regular inspection of their assets.
The main use for the robotic arm technology is to access confined spaces and hazardous areas and inspect the condition of assets such as pipes or storage tanks, checking for corrosion or cracks.
https://blueprintlab.com/products/manipulators/reach-alpha/