In context
In late 2025, the energy sector was increasingly turning to robotics to improve safety and efficiency in hazardous inspection tasks. The announcement of Square Robot's funding round and collaboration with Marathon Petroleum underscored a growing trend of industrial partnerships to accelerate the adoption of autonomous inspection solutions.
What was reported
Square Robot, a provider of submersible robotic tank inspection systems, completed a new Series B funding round. Marathon Petroleum Corp., a major US refiner, participated as an investor and agreed to collaborate on shaping the design and development of Square Robot's next-generation robotic platform.
Marathon will continue deploying Square Robot's existing fleet for critical tank inspections across its nationwide network of terminals and refineries. The collaboration aims to expand inspection capabilities and accelerate innovation in the industry.
Square Robot's CEO, David Lamont, highlighted the proven value of their robotic inspections, which eliminate confined space entry, reduce environmental impact, and deliver major cost efficiencies while keeping tanks operational.
Why it mattered
This partnership signaled a shift toward robotic solutions in industrial maintenance, potentially setting a precedent for other energy companies to adopt similar technologies to enhance safety and operational efficiency.
"Marathon's partnership marks a major milestone in our mission to transform industrial tank inspection."
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2025-12-17 · “Square Robot raises new Series B funding and agrees collaboration with Marathon Petroleum”