Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841, “Yokogawa”) and ANYbotics AG (“ANYbotics”), the Swiss market leader in industrial inspection robots, announce that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to integrate Yokogawa’s OpreX™ Robot Management Core Software with the software stack of ANYbotics’ ANYmal robot lineup, including the ANYmal X explosion-proof robot. By integrating the management of explosion-proof and non-explosion-proof robots that perform autonomous inspections of industrial facilities, the two companies aim to develop new opportunities in the oil and gas, energy, and metals industries.

OpreX Robot Management Core is a key product in Yokogawa’s robotics solutions. The software helps customers maintain their facilities more safely and efficiently by integrating the management of various types of robots that perform maintenance tasks in factories—tasks traditionally carried out by humans. When the software is connected to factory control systems, the data collected can be used to issue instructions to robots, enabling the first step toward autonomous factory operations. The latest version of OpreX Robot Management Core supports ANYmal and will be integrated with ANYbotics’ existing proprietary software stack.

ANYmal is an autonomous and remotely operated four-legged inspection robot equipped with high-performance sensors that provide superhuman perception capabilities. It is the leading four-legged robot built from the ground up specifically for inspections in harsh industrial environments. It has an IP67 rating and is fully protected against the ingress of water and dust. ANYbotics offers two models: ANYmal D, designed for highly mobile and autonomous inspections in both indoor and outdoor environments, and ANYmal X, the world’s first explosion-proof legged inspection robot certified for use in ATEX and IECEx Zone 1 environments. ANYbotics has conducted several field trials of its ANYmal X prototype, which will be officially launched later this year.
Dr. Péter Fankhauser, CEO of ANYbotics, emphasized: “This collaboration is a major milestone in our growth strategy, especially as we continue to expand into the energy markets in Asia and the Middle East—regions with strong demand for innovative inspection solutions in hazardous environments. By integrating Yokogawa’s OpreX Robot Management Core software with our ANYmal robots, we are delivering a fully integrated solution that enables industrial operators to improve safety, reduce downtime, and drive operational excellence.”

Masaharu Maeda, vice president, executive officer, and head of the Solutions Business Division at Yokogawa Electric, added: “Through the integrated use of the OpreX Robot Management Core software with ANYbotics’ robotics technology for hazardous environments, we will leverage our extensive global network to provide comprehensive support for all phases of robotics implementation at our customers’ sites, from planning to operation and maintenance. Furthermore, by combining this with our AI-based OpreX Plant Image Analyzer, we will help advance the digitization of inspection work."