Overview

ANYmal is the inspection robot from Zurich-based ANYbotics, founded in 2016 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich. The current generation D is designed for industrial operators who need to regularly inspect facilities without sending personnel into hazardous areas. Users include corporations from the oil and gas sector as well as the energy industry.

Design

The robot is protected to IP67 standard, making it dust-tight and secured against temporary submersion. In addition to standard sensors, it carries ten extra kilograms, up to fifteen total. Notable is the rotating pan-tilt unit on its back, which can pan 165 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically. Carrying handles on both sides and a warning light are part of the standard equipment.

Technology and AI

Computation is handled by two Intel Core i7 processors of the eighth generation, each with six cores. The sensor suite is designed for inspection tasks: a 360-degree lidar, six depth cameras, two cameras for remote operation, a zoom camera with twenty times optical magnification in 4K, a thermal imaging camera ranging from minus 40 to plus 550 degrees, an ultrasonic microphone up to 384 kilohertz, and spotlights delivering up to 3790 lumens. The robot travels at 0.75 meters per second and covers approximately two kilometers per charge, then automatically docks at the charging station.

Market Significance

ANYbotics occupies a niche that Boston Dynamics and Chinese providers only partially cover: certified, repeatable facility inspection with onboard measurement technology. The company does not publish a list price; distribution is handled through customized offers. For the Swiss robotics landscape, ANYmal is the most internationally visible product.