ExRobotics Launches UL-Certified ExR-2.5 Inspection Robot for Hazardous Industrial Environments

ExRobotics has launched its UL-certified ExR-2.5 autonomous inspection robot in North America, introducing a rugged robotic platform designed to perform inspections in hazardous industrial environments. The company unveiled the system at the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit 2026 in Houston, targeting oil and gas operators facing workforce shortages, aging infrastructure and increasing operational risks.

ExRobotics, a Netherlands-based specialist in hazardous-area inspection robotics, developed the ExR-2.5 to automate routine inspection rounds and reduce personnel exposure in potentially explosive environments. The platform can conduct inspections autonomously or through teleoperation, allowing operators to collect real-time data while maintaining inspection frequency and operational continuity.

Mark Mildon, CEO of ExRobotics, stated:

"The inspection challenges facing oil and gas operators are intensifying — skilled labor is harder to find, assets are aging, and the cost of failure is rising fast. We build rugged, reliable Ex-certified inspection robots because this is not a side capability for us; it's our sole focus. The ExR-2.5 delivers smart robotic missions that provide better data, boost productivity and help reduce personnel exposure to hazardous environments."

The ExR-2.5 integrates a comprehensive suite of sensors, including acoustic imaging sensors for detecting gas leaks and mechanical faults, high-resolution cameras for asset inspections, thermal imaging systems for identifying overheating equipment and environmental monitoring sensors for hazardous locations. The mobile robot also features autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance and remote operation capabilities that enable deployment across upstream, downstream, LNG and chemical facilities.

Wesley Kwok, Vice President and General Manager of Energy and Industrial Automation at UL Solutions, stated:

"Hazardous locations present unique safety challenges for remotely operated systems. Certification helps provide operators with confidence that these technologies can be deployed safely and responsibly in hazardous locations."

The robot has achieved certification under the UL 6260 standard, which establishes safety requirements for robotic technologies operating in environments containing explosive gases, vapors or combustible dust.

ExRobotics said the certification creates a recognized pathway for industrial operators seeking to deploy inspection robots safely in hazardous environments. The company is demonstrating the ExR-2.5 throughout the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit in partnership with North American distributor MicroWatt.