Energy Drone & Robotics Brief | January 10, 2024

Drones and Robots: The Best of 2024 in Energy Tech

2024 has been a wild ride, hasn’t it? We’ve seen drones patrolling the skies like tiny futuristic security guards, robots inspecting oil rigs with the precision of a surgeon, and AI showing off its smarts by making them all look even cooler.

We have gathered the top 5 stories of the year that really hit home with our community!

Highlights include:

Drones + AI = Dream Team: Think peanut butter and jelly, but with algorithms and propellers.

Chevron’s Spot Robots: The ultimate multi-taskers—inspections, safety, and data collection? Overachievers.

Autonomous Manufacturing Site Drones: Dow’s drones don’t just fly; they keep factories secure 24/7 like the best night shift you’ve ever seen.

Drone Inspection ROI: Why the benefits often go beyond just dollars and cents (safety and data quality are key factors).

And that’s just scratching the surface.

Take a gander at the full recap of our must-read stories of 2024.

What energy tech trend do you think is going to make it big in 2025? Hit reply and let us know.

Digital Twins + Robots = $20 Million in Savings

What do digital twins, humanoid robots, and $20 million in savings have in common? They’re all part of the insights shared by Cognite and Equinor at Impact 2024. We learned that robots can now repair steam leaks 97 meters in the air without shutting down operations.

In our recap of the session, learn:

• How AI-powered robots are tackling dangerous tasks like confined-space inspections and welding (no humans, no hazards, no problem).
• Why a digital twin is more than just a fancy 3D model—it’s the key to real-time, real-world efficiency.
• How Equinor saved millions while keeping their operations humming thanks to repair robots.

And if you’ve ever wondered why robots are often modeled after dogs and humans, Stein Danielsen has answers (it's not just because they’re cute).

Read the full session recap and access the recording

WHAT ELSE?

• Game Changers: Unmanned Systems Technology recently highlighted 2024’s top five most compelling case studies, showcasing how unmanned systems are transforming industrial inspections, underwater surveys, atmospheric research, and marine ecosystem monitoring.
• Apellix has launched its new US1 Power Wash Drone, designed for safe and high-performance cleaning of industrial and commercial structures. Its heavy-lift capability makes it ideal for high-pressure cleaning tasks in challenging environments, eliminating the need for hazardous manual labor and improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness by covering large surface areas quickly.
• Arcsky has announced the launch of the X55 V2, an upgraded version of its X55 industrial drone. The company developed the new model based on two years of operational feedback and technological advances, aiming to meet the complex needs of industrial applications.
• Square Robot Inc. closed a series B round of funding last month. The advanced submersible robotics company raised $13 million, according to Tracxn.com, and says it will put the funds toward international expansion.
• Samsung has entered the humanoid robot business announcing it has become the largest shareholder in Rainbow Robotics to “accelerate future robot development such as humanoid robots.”
• TechCrunch recently highlighted 55 robotics companies that are actively hiring, signaling rapid growth and innovation in the robotics industry.

ABOUT US

The Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition is focused on innovating energy operations with dynamic UAV, Robotics, Data and Automation solutions.

The Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition (aka EDR Coalition or EDRC) is a forum dedicated to launching, growing and scaling enterprise unmanned systems operations in energy companies worldwide by bringing the leaders in the drone and robotics ecosystem together with the energy industrial complex asset owners and end users.

The EDRC brings innovators together to advance the industry through digital resource sharing (like the weekly Energy Drone & Robotics Newsroom, resources on the website, blogs, podcasts and webinars), as well as live, virtual and hybrid events (including the annual Global Gathering, as well as smaller meetups throughout the year).

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