An autonomous inspection robot has been given secure digital credentials allowing it to pass through access-controlled doors at an operating power station without a human opening them.
ANYbotics, dormakaba and LEGIC have tested the system using an ANYmal four-legged robot at GE Vernova’s Whitegate power station in County Cork.
The companies say the robot has operated with the credentials for several weeks, allowing it to continue inspection rounds through secured areas without manual assistance.
When ANYmal reaches a controlled door, it identifies itself electronically, requests access and is admitted according to the site’s existing access-management rules.
Robot recognised as an authorised user
ANYmal is designed to patrol industrial facilities and inspect equipment autonomously.
Locked doors create a practical obstacle to fully unattended operation because a robot may be capable of navigating a facility but still require a person to provide access between secured areas.
The Whitegate pilot integrates the robot with the same type of security infrastructure used to control authorised human access.
Its digital credential determines whether it is permitted through a particular door. Once access is granted, the door opens and the robot can continue its inspection route.
The partners say the system has been tested in live operation at the power station rather than solely in a laboratory environment.
The technology is intended to allow autonomous robots to perform longer inspection rounds across industrial sites without employees having to accompany them simply to negotiate access-controlled doors.
ANYbotics says integration of the access technology as an ANYmal add-on is still being developed.
The pilot shows another piece of infrastructure adapting to autonomous machines: a robot can now carry its own secure identity and be recognised by a building as an authorised user.
Sources
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