At the Energy Drone and Robotics Coalition summit in Houston, Ex Robotics showcased its $300,000 inspection robot, a metre‑long, sensor‑rich device now operating at Shell, BP and Repsol sites. The machine can read gauges, sniff gases and record acoustic signatures, freeing aging crews from hazardous night‑shift checks.

CEO Mark Mildon said the robot’s Nvidia‑powered brain lets it work in explosive zones, a certification few rivals possess. With 65 units deployed mainly in Europe, Ex Robotics aims to expand into North America and the Middle East, estimating a market for 100,000 similar robots across oil, gas and refining complexes.

Across the hall, Aero Velocity demonstrated an Xbox‑controlled drone that maps facilities and creates digital twins for BP, Chevron and Shell. The firm stresses that data integration, not sensor quality, will decide which operators reap efficiency gains. The rollout of autonomous inspection tools is already reshaping labor costs and safety protocols in the energy sector.