Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it has entered into a long-term agreement with Shell Global Solutions International BV (“Shell”) to further integrate and develop technologies utilizing robots and drones in plant monitoring and maintenance. Under the agreement, Yokogawa will add an advanced machine vision tool called Operator Round by Exception (ORE), developed by Shell, to OpreX™ Robot Management Core, its proprietary robot management center. Yokogawa will make the enhanced software service available to customers in the energy, chemicals, and other industries.
ORE is a digital solution that uses machine vision and AI analytics to enable robots to autonomously perform a range of operator-specific tasks, such as reading meters and checking for leaks and problems on various machinery. It is the result of a two-year collaborative effort within Shell, which combined a machine vision strategy with deep capabilities in integrity management, remote site inspection, and corrosion management.
OpreX Robot Management Core is a key product in Yokogawa’s robot solutions. Thanks to the software, customers can maintain their facilities more safely and efficiently by integrating the management of various types of robots that perform plant maintenance tasks traditionally performed by humans. When connected to a plant’s control and safety systems, the acquired data can be used to issue instructions to the robots, enabling the first step toward autonomous plant operations. The addition of Shell’s ORE technology will significantly increase the number of use cases available to customers through OpreX Robot Management Core.
In the future, Yokogawa’s robotics operations will be implemented at two Shell facilities as a pilot test of how robotics and drones can deliver value through efficiencies in plant monitoring and maintenance.
This collaboration represents the first key milestone for Yokogawa working alongside Shell on the Amsterdam Energy Transition Campus collaboration space, which was established by Shell in 2022 to provide a collaborative platform between businesses, social organizations, governments, and universities to work on tomorrow’s energy solutions. Shell and Yokogawa have also signed a collaboration agreement for an aligned R&D roadmap to further develop and enhance machine vision technology, ensuring continuous innovation and improvement. This collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to the energy and industrial sectors.
Masaharu Maeda, Vice President, CEO and Head of Solutions Business Division at Yokogawa Electric, stated: “We are very excited to work with Shell in this key technology field that promises to address the workforce challenges faced by plant owners by significantly improving the efficiency of field rounds while reducing the inherent risk for operators. We look forward to making this available to industrial facility owners around the world in the near future and contributing to safer and more efficient workplaces.”
“Shell and Yokogawa have a proud history of joint development, enabling advanced automation solutions for our sites. With this agreement, we are taking our relationship to the next level. Robotics solutions combined with AI offer the potential to create a step change in productivity and safety,” said Gerben de Jong, Chief Information Officer, Shell Integrated Gas, Upstream and Projects & Technology.
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