At Shell facilities, robots equipped with integrated machine vision and artificial intelligence technologies will begin performing plant monitoring and maintenance tasks traditionally carried out by human operators. This development follows a new long-term agreement between Shell Global Solutions International B.V. and Yokogawa Electric Corporation, under which Yokogawa will incorporate Shell’s Operator Round by Exception (ORE) tool into its OpreX Robot Management Core software platform.
The enhanced system enables robots and drones to autonomously conduct operator rounds, including reading gauges and identifying equipment issues such as leaks. The initial rollout will take place at two Shell sites, where the technology will be evaluated for its effectiveness in improving operational efficiency and safety.
ORE was developed by Shell through a two-year internal effort that brought together capabilities in machine vision, asset integrity, remote inspection, and corrosion management. Its integration into Yokogawa’s robot management platform is intended to broaden the scope of robotic applications in industrial maintenance, supporting a shift toward more autonomous plant operations.
The collaboration marks the first major joint project at Shell’s Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam and includes a shared research and development roadmap aimed at further advancing machine vision and robotics solutions for industrial use.
