ExRobotics has announced the North American launch of its UL Certified ExR-2.5 autonomous inspection robot at the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit in Houston. The ExR-2.5 is the only UL Certified inspection robot designed for potentially explosive industrial environments, offering operators a recognized pathway to deploy autonomous robotic inspections in hazardous locations.
Key takeaways
- UL 6260 certification ensures the robot does not become an ignition source in explosive atmospheres.
- Integrated sensors include acoustic imaging for gas leak detection, high-resolution cameras for asset inspection, thermal imaging for overheating equipment, and environmental monitors.
- Autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance allow safe operation in live industrial facilities, with missions conducted autonomously or remotely supervised.
- Already trusted by major operators including Shell, Repsol, and BP, with thousands of successful missions across upstream, downstream, LNG, and chemical facilities.
The robot addresses critical industry challenges: an estimated global shortage of up to 40,000 competent energy workers by 2025/26, and unplanned downtime costing large industrial companies about 11% of revenue. By enabling continuous, repeatable, and data-driven inspections, the ExR-2.5 helps operators maintain asset integrity and inspection frequency while reducing personnel risk.
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2026-07-07 · “ExRobotics launches UL-certified inspection robot for hazardous industrial sites in North America”