Swiss robotics company ANYbotics has begun customer deliveries of ANYmal X, a four-legged inspection robot designed to operate in explosive industrial environments. Announced on October 27, the rollout includes energy company Equinor and chemicals group DSM-Firmenich, marking the commercial introduction of a system developed for parts of oil, gas and chemical facilities that conventional mobile robots cannot safely enter.
The challenge is not simply navigating a refinery or chemical plant. Equipment operating where flammable gases may be present must be engineered to avoid becoming an ignition source, even in the event of a component failure. ANYbotics says it spent four years developing ANYmal X and secured more than ten patents. Its AI computer and inspection sensors sit inside sealed, nitrogen-filled chambers, while the battery and all 12 leg actuators are protected by flameproof housings. Conductive feet provide grounding, and automatic monitoring can shut the robot down if operating conditions become unsafe. The company designed the system around European ATEX and international IECEx explosion-protection requirements.
ANYmal X is intended to take over routine inspection rounds involving pumps, compressors, valves and piping. It navigates stairs and narrow walkways while collecting thermal images, visual observations, acoustic readings and gas measurements. The information is associated with individual assets, allowing maintenance teams to identify changes over time rather than rely solely on periodic manual checks.
The commercial launch follows an early-access program that began in 2023. BP, Equinor, Shell, PETRONAS, Petrobras, BASF and SLB tested the robot across hundreds of onshore and offshore missions, according to ANYbotics. The company has not disclosed how many ANYmal X units are being delivered or the value of the initial customer contracts.
The robot operates through ANYbotics’ Shift platform, which schedules inspections and connects findings with maintenance systems including SAP, Yokogawa and SLB. ANYbotics says its broader inspection business already serves more than 50 customers and conducts over 120,000 autonomous inspections each month, figures that cover its existing systems rather than the newly shipping ANYmal X. The company plans to demonstrate the new robot at ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi with SLB and Kuwait Oil Company.
