Start with your measurement points, floor conditions, foot traffic and planned data flow. Then choose your platform, sensor package and level of autonomy. ANYbotics lists integrated visual, thermal imaging and acoustic sensors for ANYmal, while Boston Dynamics lists documented interfaces and payload options for Spot. The key is to identify what your specific route requires. For hazardous areas, the complete configuration must be suitable for the zone in question, and manufacturer runtime figures are no substitute for testing the loaded mission.
If you want to collect image, temperature or acoustic data at specific points around your equipment during regular inspection rounds, check which sensors are actually included in the configuration on offer.
If measurement points are on stairs, uneven ground or multiple levels, consider manoeuvrability, runtime with the payload fitted and how reliably the route can be repeated.
Take environmental hazards and encounters with employees into account. If your planned route includes a designated hazardous area, confirm that the complete configuration is suitable for that zone.
Base your choice on the inspection task you actually need to carry out. Compare options using the same measurement points, payloads and route conditions.
| Your priority | What to look for | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| The right measurement data | Match the measurement and sensor option to each measurement point. Check the mounting, power supply and data export for the specific configuration. | If I need to capture specific readings at every point around my equipment, a camera alone may not be enough. Around 25% of consumers are likely to consider suitable measurement data their main priority. |
| Mobility and runtime | Test narrow passages, stairs, measurement stops and the return journey with the sensors fitted. Compare runtime figures according to payload and test conditions. | If you need to reach measurement points across difficult terrain, test the entire route with the robot fully equipped. Around 20% of consumers are likely to put all-terrain capability first. |
| Repeatable routes | Check route setup, network coverage, return, charging and manual takeover at the intended operating site. | If inspections need to take place regularly, clear procedures and responsibilities matter. Around 20% of consumers are likely to see route operation as a key priority. |
| Safe operation | Assess hazards and safety measures for the specific operation. Check for hazardous-area certification only if the route actually passes through a designated hazardous area. | If employees will be nearby or there are particular environmental hazards, factor in the specific operating conditions. Around 20% of consumers are likely to prioritise demanding operating environments. |
| Integration and operation | Confirm data formats, interfaces, software support, maintenance and scope of services in advance. Include any potential customisation work in your planning. | If measurement data needs to feed into existing processes, suitable interfaces and manageable support requirements are essential. Around 15% of consumers are likely to focus on integration and ongoing effort. |
Ingress protection against dust and water does not tell you whether a system is suitable for an explosive atmosphere. CE marking also does not replace an operational risk assessment before the equipment is used as a work tool.
Check suitability for hazardous areas only if your planned route actually includes a designated hazardous area. If it does, compare the marking for the complete configuration, including all attachments, with the specific zone.
Manufacturers may distinguish between basic operation and powered payloads, walking without a load and walking with a load, or laboratory figures. These figures do not automatically indicate how long the robot will run on your route.
Test the complete outward and return journey with the planned sensors, measurement stops and operating duration.
Sensor packages, interfaces and programming need to suit your site and the measurements you want to take. Wacker Chemie AG describes the equipment and programming for its pilot operation at the Burghausen plant as having been individually adapted.
Ask for each option to demonstrate the same measurement and route sequence, and clarify the scope of supply, integration and service separately.
Spot is a configurable quadruped platform for inspection tasks.
ANYbotics positions ANYmal as an inspection platform with integrated sensors.
Unitree describes the B2 as a quadruped industrial platform, with mobility and runtime figures for different load conditions.
DEEP Robotics lists the X30 and X30 Pro as options for industrial applications and challenging routes.
The following Joybuy listings cover quadruped robots for image-based industrial inspections and navigation-based routes. Check the sensors, customisation options and safe operating conditions for your specific inspection round.
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For image-based inspection points on uneven terrain, the product description lists an HD camera and industrial inspection as an intended application.
The description recommends supervising the robot during operation and warns of a crushing hazard around its legs and joints. Avoid water, damp conditions and high humidity.
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For image-based inspection routes, the product title lists a 360° panoramic view and SLAM navigation.
The description mentions app-based programming but rules out secondary development. Check in advance whether you can make the customisations you need without developing your own software or sensors.
No. Under § 3 BetrSichV, CE marking does not exempt an employer from carrying out a risk assessment before using equipment as a work tool. You must also check the product obligations for the specific configuration supplied or substantially modified.
For machinery, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health currently refers to Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and its implementation in German law. Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 replaces the Directive from 20 January 2027. The applicable conformity assessment requirements need to be established based on the relevant date and the specific system integration.
Not every attachment automatically amounts to a substantial modification or triggers the same inspection requirements. The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health explains that a substantial modification may trigger new requirements for making equipment available; under the relevant conditions, § 14 BetrSichV requires inspections after changes subject to inspection. Assess the specific change and its effects.
The purpose of inspection does not grant blanket permission. If personal data is processed, you need to assess the legal basis, necessity and interests of the people affected for the specific use. Audio recording also requires a separate assessment of what is recorded, the purpose and the legal basis. The Data Protection Conference offers guidance, but does not approve any particular robot mission.
Ask for a complete mission to be demonstrated, including measurement stops, the return journey and charging. Set out responsibilities for operation, updates, maintenance and fault resolution in the quotation. Wacker Chemie AG reports that its pilot operation at the Burghausen plant involved individually adapted programming and support from an employee; this does not provide a general benchmark for costs.