Nobleo’s unique SLAM solution overcomes single vendor lock-in for ExRobotics

When ExRobotics wanted to enhance their ATEX-certified inspection robot with advanced autonomy features and move away from vendor lock-in, they commissioned Nobleo to develop a tailored solution. Nobleo designed custom on-robot software, including a SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) algorithm, built to operate within the strict constraints of hazardous environments and compatible with multiple fleet management systems.

Autonomous navigation without vendor lock-in

“We had already developed an autonomous ATEX-certified robot that could safely operate in the most hazardous environments of petrochemical sites,” explains Iwan de Waard, CTO, and co-founder of ExRobotics. “But we found ourselves locked into a single fleet manager, which limited our ability to interface with other fleet managers and thus serve clients who preferred different systems. We needed a partner who could develop an autonomous navigation system that would allow the robot to interface with multiple fleet managers from different manufacturers.”

Extensive customisation

The project had long been recognised as complex as there is no standard to just tap into. Multiple companies, including a billion-dollar tech giant, have already attempted to take on the challenge but failed to deliver. Iwan: “The difference with Nobleo is that they are an engineering firm. They don’t offer ready-made products but have embedded part of their extensive knowledge into standard software packages, which they then further customise to meet requirements.”

“While many companies claim to offer ‘off-the-shelf’ solutions for robotic autonomy, the reality is that 99% of the time, extensive customisation is required,” Bram Oddrosslij, Robotics and AI engineer at Nobleo, adds. “Each client has different hardware, different requirements, and different constraints. What Nobleo offers aren’t just software packages, but the competence to adapt and develop those packages into solutions that work within those specific parameters. This flexibility is crucial when avoiding vendor lock-in in complex industrial environments.”

A complex challenge

ExRobotics’ request turned out to be quite a challenge. Their robot isn’t your standard autonomous vehicle. It is ATEX-certified, meaning it is approved for use in explosive environments, complying with EU directives to ensure it won’t ignite hazardous gases or dust. This certification, while critical for the robot’s core value proposition, presented significant engineering challenges. “Working with ATEX-certified hardware means dealing with strict limitations on power consumption to prevent excessive heat generation,” says Bram. “It’s like trying to run modern autonomy algorithms on a computer operating at half capacity.”

To systematically address these challenges, Nobleo initiated a demonstration project aimed at identifying risks early on and, using their core competence in autonomy, exploring feasible solutions within the constrained hardware environment. “In a project of this complexity, it’s crucial we follow a structured systems engineering approach,” Bram continues. “Utilising our go-to SLAM stack, this approach allowed us to evaluate its performance under the strict ATEX limitations.”

Moving forward together

During this demonstration phase, Nobleo encountered the difficulties already anticipated by ExRobotics based on earlier experiences. This shared understanding of the technical challenges led to a collaborative decision to develop a fully custom SLAM stack. “What’s really fundamental in these kinds of collaborations is transparency. It’s about being open with one another, about sharing knowledge and expertise, and about discussing any obstacles. That alone will allow you to move forward,” Iwan explains.

To further develop this custom SLAM stack. ExRobotics and Nobleo have jointly secured an MIT-R&D subsidy. The project qualified for support due to its innovative nature in developing technology that doesn’t currently exist on the market. Meanwhile, Nobleo gained valuable insights by exploring potential fleet management interfaces with various industry leaders. “This has helped us in obtaining a good understanding of what is needed to interface with the various fleet managers on the market,” Bram notes. “This will be crucial for the next phase of development.”

Future prospects

Beyond solving a technical challenge, this project reflects a broader shift in the robotics sector. “There’s no agreed-upon way yet for how a fleet manager interfaces with a robot,” Iwan notes. “Yet such standardisation is essential if we want robots or fleet managers from various vendors to share data or work together seamlessly. With the custom SLAM solution we are currently developing, we aim to take a first step towards that shared foundation. A foundation designed to enable openness, interoperability and avoid vendor lock-in.”

Future-proof autonomy, without vendor lock-in

We help our clients stay in control by developing autonomous systems that are adaptable, vendor-independent and engineered to perform under demanding operational conditions. As robotics applications become more open and modular, we focus on building flexible architectures that integrate seamlessly with different platforms and fleet managers.

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