(46d) Robotics and AI to Improve Process Safety Performance

Robots have been used for decades in discrete manufacturing and warehousing; can they be used just as effectively for the process industry, especially with respect to improving safety?

Technology has advanced in recent years to allow robots to move autonomously and collect data. Several robotic companies have developed such robots with various mobility capabilities and sensor options. Sensors include those that most humans inherently possess in addition to superhuman ones, such as thermal imaging and gas sensors.

With the addition of AI, the data collected from the sensors can be used to evaluate anomalies and trends, thus preventing equipment failure and accidents. In addition, robots perform tasks repeatedly without distraction and human-error thus bringing safety to the forefront. Lastly, they also can be used for work that is dangerous, thus removing humans from potential threats.