Yokogawa, Shell Partner on AI and Robotics for Plant Ops

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Yokogawa) has entered into a long-term agreement with Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (Shell) to integrate and further develop robotic and drone-based technologies for industrial plant monitoring and maintenance applications.

As part of the agreement, Yokogawa will incorporate Shell’s Operator Round by Exception (ORE) advanced machine vision tool into its OpreX™ Robot Management Core platform, enhancing software capabilities for automated facility inspections in the energy, chemical, and other process industries.

Shell’s all-digital ORE solution incorporates advanced machine vision and AI analytics, enabling robots to autonomously perform key operator round tasks—including gauge reading, leak detection, and equipment integrity checks—that human operators have traditionally handled. The technology was developed as part of a two-year internal collaboration program at Shell, drawing on the company’s expertise in integrity management, remote inspection, and corrosion monitoring.

OpreX Robot Management Core serves as a centralized software platform for managing multiple types of robots used in industrial maintenance. Integrating with a facility’s control and safety systems allows data collected by robots to trigger automated instructions, marking a step toward autonomous plant operations. The integration of ORE significantly expands the range of tasks that can be automated through the system.

Yokogawa plans to pilot the combined technology at two Shell facilities to assess how robotics and drones can improve efficiency in monitoring and maintenance operations. Both companies will also collaborate on a joint R&D roadmap aimed at further developing the technology for broader industrial applications.

This agreement represents the first milestone in Yokogawa’s participation at the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam, a Shell-led initiative launched in 2022 to foster collaboration between industry, academia, and government on low-carbon and digital energy solutions. Shell and Yokogawa have also agreed to collaborate on an aligned R&D roadmap to develop further and enhance the 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.

Of this new partnership, Masaharu Maeda, Yokogawa Electric vice president, executive officer, and head of the company’s Solutions Business Division, noted, “We are very excited to be working with Shell on this key technology field that promises to address the workforce challenges facing plant owners by significantly improving the efficiency of rounds in the field, while also reducing the inherent risk to operators. We look forward to making it available to industrial facility owners globally in the near future and contributing to safer and more efficient workplaces.”

“Shell & Yokogawa have a proud history of developing together to enable advanced automation solutions for our sites. With this agreement, we are taking our relationship to the next level. Robotics solutions combined with AI provide the potential to create a step change in productivity and safety,” said Gerben de Jong, CIO for Shell Integrated Gas, Upstream and Projects & Technology.

About Yokogawa

Yokogawa provides measurement, control, and information solutions for customers in industries such as energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food. The company applies digital technologies to optimize production, asset performance, and supply chain operations, enabling progress toward autonomous plant operation. Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa employs over 17,000 people across 128 companies in 62 countries. For more information, please click here.

Source/Photo Credit: Yokogawa

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