Senior Angular Engineer

ANYbotics opens the door for inspections with ANYmal robots. Closed doors have been a barrier for mobile inspection robots in processing industries such as energy, metals, mining, and chemicals. ANYbotics today said it has partnered with dormakaba and LEGIC Identsystems AG to add automated door-access capabilities to its ANYmal robot fleet. "Inspection only delivers value if the robot can reach the asset, and a closed door was the one obstacle that stopped our robots from covering the most critical parts of a plant," said Jacob Euler-Rolle, product manager, workflow integration, at ANYbotics. "Solving it with LEGIC and dormakaba means ANYmal can now inspect where it matters most, without rebuilding any infrastructure." "Our customers do not buy robots; they buy a solution to their operational challenges: less unplanned downtime and fewer people in hazardous areas," stated Péter Fankhauser, co-founder and CEO of ANYbotics. "With dormakaba and LEGIC, ANYmal can move through doors like any authorized colleague, under the same rules and the same audit trail. The access-controlled door pilot has proven this works in a live operating environment, and we will now make that function available as an add-on across the entire ANYmal fleet." Spun out of ETH Zurich in 2016, ANYbotics said its ANYmal quadrupeds are designed for routine inspections, remote operations, and predictive maintenance of critical assets. It claimed that they can address labor shortages, increase plant uptime, reduce costs, and limit human exposure to hazardous areas. The Zurich-based company has about 200 staffers and has obtained more than $150 million in funding to date. ANYbotics and dormakaba expand robot navigation. ANYbotics said its robots can now navigate through both unlocked and locked doors across complex, multi-zone environments without requiring structural modifications or manual intervention. When ANYmal approaches an unlocked door on its planned route, a radar sensor detects its presence and triggers a retrofitted dormakaba ED 100 or ED 250 mounted on the door. The door opens automatically, ANYmal passes through, and the door closes behind it. This system works on existing doors and complies with indoor, outdoor, and fire-rated specifications, according to ANYbotics. To support deployment, dormakaba's localized teams handle surveying, hardware quoting, and installation for the company's customers. "Dormakaba's ED 100 and ED 250 are swing door operators that are largely independent of the door type," Euler-Rolle told The Robot Report. "They can automate almost any swing door within their specification and are retrofitted onto the customer's existing door rather than requiring a specific brand or a new door." ANYbotics offers a tele-assist feature to handle routine exceptions, allowing a remote operator to resolve the issue, adapt the mission, or direct the robot back to its dock, he added. LEGIC Identsystems helps with secure doors. For doors in secure or restricted areas, presence detection alone is not enough. To address locked doors, the partners have integrated their core technologies. ANYbotics provides the autonomous mobile robot (AMR), LEGIC Identsystems supplies the secure digital credential technology, and dormakaba provides the access management and door automation systems. "With this project, we are taking a major step into physical AI, extending LEGIC's secure access credential technologies from people and objects to machines," said Mehdi Elhaoussine, general manager at LEGIC. The new authentication system allows plant operators to maintain control over who or what enters specific areas. They can manage ANYmal's movement with existing security systems and limit access to defined zones, operating windows, or inspection tasks. Rather than bypassing plant security or leaving controlled doors permanently open, ANYmal carries a LEGIC security payload that gives it a trusted digital identity. As the robot approaches a protected doorway, it requests access electronically from dormakaba's exos system. It determines whether to grant access based on predefined permissions, unlocking the door automatically for ANYmal. How does the system handle the risk of people following the robot into areas for which they don't have authorization? "Tailgating is an inherent risk of access-control doors, and the robot inherits the facility's existing security protocols rather than replacing them," replied Euler-Rolle. "The robot authenticates and passes through doors just like a badged employee. It does not change the door's own anti-tailgating measures, nor does it weaken or override existing physical security measures - such as mantraps, interlocks, cameras, or guard protocols." "Consequently, someone tailgating a robot creates the same security event as someone tailgating a human, triggering the site's standard countermeasures," he said. "Additionally, because the robot logs every credential scan and transit with a precise timestamp, it creates a clear audit trail that provides better visibility than a manually propped-open door." LEGIC's credential and trust technology is licensed and integrated across a broad range of access-management systems industrywide, giving ANYbotics compatibility with existing plants, noted Euler-Rolle. The local security team can handle any exceptions without bringing in third parties. ANYbotics, dormakaba, and LEGIC Identsystems have demonstrated automated access to controlled doors. Source: ANYbotics GE Vernova validates ANYmal access at Whitegate Power Station. GE Vernova tested the new joint solution in a live operating environment at its Whitegate power plant in County Cork, Ireland. Over several weeks of continuous testing, ANYmal has operated reliably, repeatedly requesting access, passing through controlled doors, and completing its inspection routes without manual intervention, said the companies. "The door-passage solution allows ANYmal to move seamlessly between plant zones without compromising safety or security rules," said Brian Carroll, a maintenance engineer at GE Vernova Whitegate. "By letting the door open automatically for the robot, we can automate routine inspection runs across the entire facility while keeping fire and security barriers intact." The new access-control add-on will be available to current ANYbotics deployments and future ANYmal hardware platforms later this year. ANYbotics, dormakaba, and LEGIC Identsystems are also exploring further applications, including automated access to elevators, gates, and turnstiles in large facilities. "The joint pilot illustrates how access solutions are evolving beyond traditional applications for human users," said David Fuller, chief innovation officer at dormakaba. "By securely authenticating and authorizing autonomous machines, access management can become an important enabler for the next generation of industrial automation." The market for AMRs navigating restricted areas is linked to the inspection robotics sector, which ANYbotics' Euller-Rolle said is growing by more than 20% annually. At the same time, many mobile robots will eventually face closed doors in industrial sites, so the potential is even greater, he said. "Fire doors compartmentalize almost every process facility to isolate hazards, placing 30% to 50% of critical equipment behind restricted barriers," Euler-Rolle noted. "Because autonomous value is dictated by site coverage, overcoming these physical barriers directly unlocks the full value of robotic inspection. A robot capable of reaching 100% of a plant delivers exponentially higher utility than one restricted to half the facility."

ANYmal unlocks autonomous industrial inspections. September 24, 2026 ANYbotics has partnered with dormakaba and LEGIC Identsystems AG to add automated door access capabilities to its ANYmal robot fleet. In doing so, it has removed one of the last major physical barriers to fully autonomous industrial inspections. The Zurich-based robotics company announced a partnership with dormakaba, and LEGIC Identsystems AG. This collaboration adds automated door access to its ANYmal robot fleet, enabling robots to walk through both unlocked and locked doors without human help. This change enables continuous, facility-wide inspections, increasing human safety and maintaining safety levels. In hazardous environments such as energy, metals, mining, and chemicals, inspection routes must always pass through doors that isolate rooms for a variety of reasons. Through this partnership, ANYmal can now traverse even more of the footprint of buildings that they were hitherto unable to access. Jacob Euler-Rolle, Head of Product Management, Workflow Integration at ANYbotics, noted, "Our customers do not buy robots; they buy a solution to their operational challenges: less unplanned downtime and fewer people in hazardous areas. "The impact is measured in how many critical assets our robots inspect, how often, and how reliably. A closed door was the one obstacle that stopped our robots from covering the most critical parts of a plant. Solving it with LEGIC and dormakaba means ANYmal can now inspect where it matters most, without rebuilding any infrastructure." Beating the "last door" Barrier. Closed doors have long restricted mobile robotics, with robots unable to inspect isolated rooms. Now, ANYmal can navigate complex, multi-zone environments. It works across energy, metals, mining, and chemical plants. Customers care about operational results, not just hardware. They want less unplanned downtime. They also want fewer people in hazardous areas. Success depends on how many critical assets robots inspect. It also depends on how reliably they do it. There are two use cases the solution has solved. The first is for doors that are merely closed and a barrier between zones. The second is for access-controlled doors. The solution to open unlocked doors is commercially available, with access control doors planned for a later release. Opening those unlocked doors. For unlocked doors, ANYbotics partnered with dormakaba for this solution. A radar sensor detects the robot's presence. It triggers a retrofitted dormakaba door operator. The door opens automatically. ANYmal passes through. The door closes safely behind it. This system uses presence detection only. It needs no access credentials. It works on existing doors. It complies with indoor, outdoor, and fire-rated specs. Localized teams handle surveying and installation. They work directly for ANYbotics customers. Importantly for customers, dormakaba assists with the surveying, hardware quoting, and installation directly for ANYbotics customers. dormakaba installed the appropriate hardware on the door, which is tested to 1,000,000 cycles. It leverages the Motion IQ Intelligent door control, which ensures the door is open only as long as required. Closing the door safely once the robot has passed through. The system is proven to work on existing doors and complies with indoor, outdoor, and fire-rated specifications. Secure access for locked doors. Locked doors need a different approach. Presence detection is not enough for secure areas. ANYbotics, dormakaba, and LEGIC developed a new solution. It integrates their core technologies. ANYmal provides the robot platform. LEGIC supplies secure digital credentials. And dormakaba provides the access management systems. The system treats the robot like an authorized employee. Plant operators control exactly where ANYmal goes, defining zones, operating windows, and tasks. ANYmal carries a LEGIC security payload. This acts as an electronic access pass. The robot requests access electronically, and the system grants or denies entry. It logs all movements, and with the door automatically closing once the robot has passed through, security is maintained. Mehdi Elhaoussine at LEGIC, stated, "This is about authenticating autonomous systems; issuing a trusted identity. In effect, a badge for the robot. With this project, we are taking a major step into physical AI, extending LEGIC's secure access credential technologies from people and objects to machines." The access-controlled payload will be available later this year. The partners are also exploring elevator, turnstyle and gate access. This could extend autonomous routes further. Proven at power stations. The solution was tested at GE Vernova's Whitegate power station in Ireland. ANYmal operated reliably for weeks. Repeatedly requesting access and passing through controlled doors. It was able to complete inspection routes autonomously and without risking life. Previously, for ANYmal to complete an inspection doors would have to be left open, and if a human closed the door, the inspection would fail, either with ANYmal trapped or unable to complete its mission. The door should ideally be kept closed, as a fire break and to stop rodents getting access to parts where they can eat cables. Brian Carroll at GE Vernova commented, "The door passage solution allows ANYmal to move seamlessly between plant zones without compromising safety or security rules. By letting the door open automatically for the robot, we can automate routine inspection runs across the entire facility while keeping fire and security barriers intact." The result is that the power station is able to conduct monitoring daily with Animal, which they had the resources to complete only once a year previously with a contractor. This reduces the risk of incidents and ensures any repairs are carried out faster. A pilot video gives more details. Enterprise times: what does this mean. This announcement signals a major shift in industrial robotics. For ANYbotics, it removes a key limitation. Robots can now inspect much more of a facility. It has already conquered the challenge of stairs and is now able to open doors. Anybotics continues to work with partners to solve the remaining challenges that hinder a complete site inspection. This increases the value of their hardware and makes their solution more competitive. For partners, it opens new markets. dormakaba and LEGIC are expanding beyond human access. They are now entering the machine authentication space. This creates new revenue streams for them. For customers, it means better efficiency and safety. Plants can automate more inspections, and fewer humans need to enter hazardous areas. Security remains intact. Fire barriers stay closed. This is a win for operational excellence.

Dormakaba, ANYbotics, and LEGIC test access control solution for robots. 18 September 2026 09:38 Supporting partner. Rümlang/Wetzikon/Zurich/Whitegate - Swiss locking technology specialist dormakaba, robotics developer ANYbotics, and technology firm LEGIC have successfully integrated autonomous inspection robots into the access control system at the Whitegate power plant in Ireland. The solution is now set to be brought to market. (CONNECT) Rümlang-based dormakaba Holding AG, in collaboration with ANYbotics AG from Zurich and LEGIC Identsystems AG from Wetzikon in the Swiss canton of Zurich, has tested a solution that allows autonomous robots to be integrated into existing access control systems. According to a statement, the solution was tested under real-world operating conditions at GE Vernova's Whitegate power plant in County Cork, Ireland. For the pilot project, ANYbotics is providing the robot and the robotics platform. LEGIC is supplying the technology for secure digital access credentials, while dormakaba is providing the access management system and automated doors. The mobile inspection robot ANYmal has been in use for several weeks. It moves autonomously through industrial facilities, collecting data as it goes. The robot authenticates itself to the access control system using a digital access credential. The system verifies the credential and automatically opens the door once access is approved. "Autonomous robots are becoming part of the workforce in industrial environments," said dormakaba CEO Till Reuter. He explained that, like people, they need reliable and secure access to the areas where they perform their tasks. Mehdi Elhaoussine, General Manager of LEGIC, emphasized: "With this first-of-its-kind project, we are taking a major step into physical AI." The three partners are now working toward a market launch. At the same time, they are exploring additional applications, including enabling robots to access elevators, security gates, and turnstiles. ANYbotics plans to offer the feature tested in the pilot project as an add-on option across its entire ANYmal fleet. ce/as