Severstal tested the Deep Robotics robot dog on the territory of Severstal-Metiz and the Cherepovets Metallurgical Plant. For several days, the robot trained to navigate the terrain, carry loads using a robotic arm, and monitor compliance with safety rules. At CherMK's coke-sintering blast furnace production, the possibility of using a robotic dog for sample delivery and environmental monitoring was explored. For example, as an experiment in the foundry yard of blast furnace No. 3, he delivered briquettes of refractory mass directly to the point of use. The testing was carried out by specialists from Severstal-infocom and the Laboratory of New Products.
Thanks to computer vision and 3D profiling algorithms, as well as LiDAR technology, the robot dog can perform tasks of measuring objects and transporting objects weighing up to 40 kg , various types of inspection and preventive diagnostics of equipment. For example, it can conduct sound diagnostics, thermal imaging and gas analysis studies, and also build maps to develop digital twins of enterprises. It is important that the robot is able to perform operations continuously and in difficult conditions for humans.
Tests at Severstal showed the possibilities and limitations of using such robots in real production conditions of a metallurgical plant, and also contributed to the development of new hypotheses for the use and development of tested technologies.
“Robots are ready to perform continuous routine tasks for quite a long time, excluding the human factor, which can affect the accuracy of measurements. This will allow, for example, better and faster diagnostics of gas leaks. In addition, we strive to reduce the presence of humans in high-risk areas, and robots in the future will be able, if not completely replace, then significantly facilitate their work in mines, hot shops and other sites. We will continue testing robot dogs at other Severstal sites,” commented Denis Kolupaev, head of R&D at Severstal-infocom.
