Gecko Robotics' Advanced Wall-Climbing Robots Enhance Gulf Energy Security Post-Attack

In response to vulnerabilities exposed in the Gulf's critical energy infrastructure following recent attacks, US technology firm Gecko Robotics is deploying its latest generation of wall-climbing robots. These advanced machines are being utilized across Adnoc's energy facilities to meticulously detect structural weaknesses and assess damage. Gecko Robotics unveiled its new Raptor robot exclusively to The National at Adipec in Abu Dhabi. The company is also exploring the possibility of manufacturing these robots within the UAE as its partnership with Adnoc deepens, including a new agreement with Adnoc Onshore.

Jake Loosararian, CEO and co-founder of Gecko Robotics, explained the significance of their technology in the context of post-attack recovery. "When you think about that as it relates to post-attacks, that's where you should be able to think about Gecko's ability to understand what sort of damage has occurred, so that it increases how quickly you can get assets back up and running," he told The National. The Raptor robot employs sensors and sound waves to identify structural faults without necessitating facility downtime. It operates three to five times faster than its predecessor and can gather millions of data points during inspections, with the company claiming it is up to 50 times faster than competing robots.

Energy Under Threat

The demand for Gecko Robotics' services has surged due to recent attacks on energy infrastructure across the region. The company has secured substantial contracts for military applications and is expanding its military business, recently signing a $300 million agreement with the US Navy for robotics applications. Mr. Loosararian noted that the military's use of robotics and AI to enhance the readiness and performance of critical assets is a concept directly applicable to energy infrastructure, especially during regional conflicts. The technology provides crucial data on "what to fix, how to fix it," while also contributing to extending equipment lifespans and maintenance cycles.

Meet Raptor

Gecko's new wall-climbing robot, Raptor, scans surfaces and captures millions of data points during inspections. "Raptor allows for a 50 x reduction in the cost of data collection, while also increasing the fidelity by roughly the same order of magnitude," Loosararian stated. The robot saves companies time and money by eliminating the need to take facilities offline for assessment. Its advanced monitoring technology uses sensors and sound waves for detection, feeding data into a digital layer that maps the assets. Gecko Robotics emphasizes its focus on safety and developing "better tools" for personnel. "Robotics are essential to ensure that resilience and readiness is possible in a world where we don't have a lot of these skilled workforces. And by the way, we should be building technology that makes people safe. And that's exactly what these robots are doing," he added.

Changing Priorities

Mr. Loosararian advised energy companies to embrace the latest technologies to maintain a leading position in the sector. "If you don't have a path that leads you towards a more AI-native, robotic-native way of running infrastructure, you are operating in the ancient past, and that ancient path will lead you to demise," he warned. "The energy companies that are looking more and more like tech companies are going to be the ones that win the day."

UAE Manufacturing Ambitions

With growing demand, Gecko Robotics is considering manufacturing its robots in the UAE. This would allow for the development and testing of technology closer to the energy facilities where it is deployed. The company currently deploys tens of robots daily in the region. "There's an abundance of energy infrastructure in the UAE," Mr. Loosararian remarked. Producing technology locally would help circumvent the "death of a lab," where equipment developed in controlled environments may not perform as expected in real-world conditions. The UAE is actively working to expand local robotics manufacturing as part of its industrial development strategy. Ibtisam Al Saadi, acting assistant undersecretary for the industrial development sector at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, highlighted the growing demand for robotics across various sectors and its role in enhancing production. She also noted a rising interest among young Emiratis in robotics programming and manufacturing, alongside local advancements in drones and 3D printing.

Gecko's expansion also includes an upcoming agreement with Adnoc Onshore, set to be announced soon, to implement robotics and AI models for critical infrastructure management.