Developer of four-legged inspection robots ANYbotics is equipping its autonomous ANYmal with lidar sensors from Velodyne Lidar.
Adding Velodyne’s Puck sensors to the ANYbotic’s robotic inspection solution will enable it to map industrial environments. ANYmal can detect obstacles and avoid any collisions while navigating harsh environments with a higher level of accuracy.
“Velodyne’s lidar sensors provide ANYmal with a constant stream of high-resolution, 3D information about its surroundings, helping the robot safely map and patrol complex and harsh environments,” said Daniel Lopez Madrid, team lead perception at ANYbotics.
“The sensors enable precise localisation and mapping capabilities our robots need to understand the physical environment they are operating in and any changes such as moving people and objects.”
ANYmal performs inspection and monitoring tasks in industrial terrains such as mining and minerals, oil and gas, chemicals, energy and construction.
ANYmal’s legs are designed to provide unparalleled mobility when moving up and down stairs, climbing over obstacles, steps and gaps, and crawling into tight spaces.
The autonomous robot’s inspection payload provides visual, thermal and acoustic insights for condition monitoring of equipment and infrastructure.
“ANYbotics robotic solutions excel at automating industrial inspections that provide plant operators information to maximise equipment uptime and improve safety,” said Erich Smidt, executive director europe, Velodyne Lidar.
“By using Velodyne’s lidar, their robots can autonomously navigate complex multi-story environments and find the quickest route to perform missions. During operation, the robot’s system can safely avoid obstacles and reliably move over rough terrain.”
Read more: Autonomous inspection robot trialled at BASF chemical complex
