Future of Robotics becomes reality

ExRobotics starts production of the first batch of inspection robots for NAM

ExRobotics and NAM have signed a major contract for the deployment of the ExR-1 robot to perform safety inspections at NAM’s gas assets located around the Netherlands.

On April the 25th, 2018, ExRobotics and NAM signed a contract for the deployment of the ExR-1 robot to perform inspections at NAM’s gas assets around the Netherlands. The first batch of 10 are now being produced and will deployed from September 2018.

The first ever operational robot of its kind, the ExR-1 will be the mobile eyes and ears of the operator, allowing safe, remote operation. The NAM operator will be able to look through the robot’s cameras and listen to its microphones enabling them to read gauges, see breakages and hear abnormal sounds as if they were there. Each robot has an integrated self-docking and self-charging system and is ATEX and IECEx Zone 1 certified.

The robots are designed to be driven from a central control room, located no more than a few hundred kilometers from each robot. This allows them to remotely carry out safety checks and avoids travel time and road travel exposure. In March 2018, to demonstrate the flexibility of the system, an ExR-1 robot located at ExRobotics’ facility in the Netherlands was driven from the other side of the world, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This successful trial emphasized the practicality of this solution.

The contract signing follows a successful trial at NAM’s Barendrecht site in the Netherlands. The robot will perform various inspections and its deployment will contribute to increased operational safety and reducing operational costs, as well as making a significant contribution to the company’s digitalization program.

NAM has pioneered an innovative vision of incorporating the benefits of increased digitalization throughout the oil and gas industry. As well as making an invaluable contribution to safety and efficiency, in the near future, it is also expected that the ExR-1 will be capable of fully autonomous navigation, data collection and advanced analytics.

About NAM

NAM is a Dutch joint venture between Shell and ExonMobil whose core business is exploring for and producing oil and gas, both onshore and offshore, in the Netherlands. NAM is responsible for unlocking two of the Netherlands’ most important resources: gas and oil. Over the last 70 years NAM has provided a significant proportion of The Netherlands energy requirements.

About ExRobotics B.V.

ExRobotics is a leading international company specialized in robotic solutions for potentially explosive facilities. It produces Ex-certified robots (ATEX and IECEx Zone 1) that can remotely carry out otherwise potentially hazardous safety checks at remote facilities.

For more information, please contact Samir El Awadi, director ExRobotics
Email: samir.elawadi@exrobotics.global Tel.: +31 88 550 4300