ExR-2.5 robots are now accessible across North America. Source: ExRobotics
ExRobotics B.V. pointed out that oil and gas operators are grappling with a combination of deteriorating infrastructure, severe staffing gaps, and the growing financial toll of unexpected downtime. The company officially introduced its UL-certified ExR-2.5 autonomous inspection robot to the North American market at the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit held in Houston.
“The inspection hurdles confronting oil and gas operators are growing more acute — experienced workers are increasingly difficult to recruit, equipment is getting older, and the consequences of failures are escalating rapidly,” said Mark Mildon, CEO of ExRobotics. “We design tough, dependable Ex-certified inspection robots because this isn’t a secondary offering for us; it’s the core of everything we do.”
“Having carried out thousands of robotic missions for major operators including Shell, Repsol, and BP, the ExR-2.5 provides intelligent robotic missions that yield higher-quality data, enhance productivity, and help ensure uninterrupted operations — all while minimizing the need for personnel to enter dangerous environments,” he continued. “Unveiling the UL Certified ExR-2.5 at EDRC [the Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition’s event] demonstrates that autonomous inspection has progressed past experimental pilots and is now firmly established in real-world industrial settings.”
ExRobotics tackles oil and gas industry challenges
Industry analysts have forecast a global shortfall of as many as 40,000 skilled workers in the energy sector this year, while 62% of Gen Z and Millennials reportedly consider oil and gas careers unattractive. According to ExRobotics, this makes replacing retiring engineers a pressing operational concern.
Meanwhile, unplanned downtime currently costs the world’s largest industrial firms an estimated 11% of their total revenue, according to Siemens research. For a mid-sized oil and gas facility, just 3.5 days of downtime can result in losses exceeding $5 million.
ExRobotics stressed that inspections remain essential for maintaining a facility’s operational license, yet conventional inspection methods increasingly put workers at risk while falling behind in managing complex and deteriorating assets. Founded in 2017, the company said it concentrates exclusively on engineering rugged, reliable inspection robots built for hazardous environments with potentially explosive atmospheres.
By taking over dangerous inspection tasks through robotic missions, operators can sustain inspection regularity and quality, while decreasing their dependence on specialized workers who are hard to recruit, according to ExRobotics.
Submit your session idea for the 2026 RoboBusinessExR-2.5 detects leaks through sound
ExRobotics stated that the ExR-2.5 robots are capable of conducting safety inspections and gathering real-time data throughout upstream and downstream operations, both onshore and offshore, as well as within liquefied natural gas (LNG) and chemical facilities around the world.
The Delft, Netherlands-headquartered company explained that the new platform substitutes routine human involvement with intelligent robotic missions that produce superior data, increase productivity, and help maintain operational continuity. The robots carry out safety assessments and collect and transmit real-time data using an array of integrated instruments.
The system’s acoustic imaging sensors pick up high-frequency sound patterns produced by gas leaks and mechanical defects, enabling earlier detection compared to visual checks or manual procedures.
High-resolution cameras permit detailed visual examination of equipment, corrosion, valves, gauges, and structural components. A thermal imaging camera identifies overheating machinery and unusual temperature readings, while environmental and safety sensors track conditions critical to hazardous-area operations.
Equipped with autonomous navigation, administrative oversight controls, and integrated obstacle-detection systems, the mobile robot can move safely through complex, active industrial sites and be operated remotely from on-site locations or from thousands of miles away. After finishing a mission, the robot returns to its docking station to prepare for its next deployment, according to ExRobotics.
ExR-2.5 is equipped with a comprehensive sensor suite for safe navigation and facility monitoring. Source: ExRobotics
UL Solutions validates ExRobotics system
UL 6260 provides a safety certification framework for robotic inspection technology intended for use in environments where explosive gases, vapors, or combustible dusts may exist, while ensuring that the robot itself does not act as an ignition source.
UL Solutions, headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, assessed the ExR-2.5 against hazards including fire, explosion, and electrical shock across all of its intended operating modes and power configurations. The evaluation concentrated on the safety challenges unique to hazardous-area robotics, encompassing battery systems, electrical controls, and mechanical components functioning safely under both standard and fault conditions within explosive atmospheres.
“Hazardous environments pose distinctive safety challenges for remotely operated systems,” said Wesley Kwok, vice president and general manager of energy and industrial automation at UL Solutions. “Certification helps give operators confidence that these technologies can be deployed safely and responsibly in such locations.”
ExRobotics added: “As operators increasingly turn to automation to cope with workforce shortages and deteriorating infrastructure, certification is emerging as a critical factor for adoption in hazardous settings.” It noted that UL 6260 establishes a recognized certification pathway for the safe deployment of inspection robots in these environments.
According to ExRobotics, the ExR-2.5 robots is designed for autonomous or teleoperated inspections. Source: ExRobotics
MicroWatt Backs Inspection Robots Across North America
MicroWatt serves as ExRobotics’ sole partner throughout North America.
“As the sole distributor, manufacturer, and service provider across North America, we are excited to support the rollout of certified robotic solutions tailored for the oil and gas sector,” stated Shawn Coffey, CEO of MicroWatt. “Our mission is to connect customers with reliable solutions, backed by hands-on guidance, deployment assistance, and operational insight that helps minimize hazards while boosting safety and productivity.”
ExRobotics is hosting live, scheduled demonstrations of the UL-certified ExR-2.5 at Booth 816 during the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit, running June 22–24 at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott. Those interested can reserve a demo slot through MicroWatt’s website.
