ORE is a digital solution that uses machine vision and AI analytics to enable robots to autonomously perform multiple tasks during operator inspections, such as reading instrument data, detecting leaks and mechanical failures, etc. The technology is the result of two years of collaborative research and development within Shell, combining machine vision strategies with deep capabilities in integrity management, remote field inspection, and corrosion management.
OpreX Robot Management Core is the core product of Yokogawa's robotics solution. The software helps customers maintain facilities in a safer and more efficient way by integrating and managing various types of robots that perform plant maintenance tasks that are traditionally done by humans. When connected to the plant's control and safety systems, the acquired data can be used to issue instructions to the robot, taking the first step towards autonomous plant operation. The addition of Shell's ORE technology will significantly increase the number of application scenarios that customers can use with OpreX Robot Management Core.
This collaboration is the first key milestone in Yokogawa's cooperation with Shell in the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam. The campus was created by Shell in 2022 to provide a platform for companies, social organizations, governments and universities to jointly develop future energy solutions. Shell and Yokogawa have also agreed to work together on a consistent R&D roadmap to further develop and enhance machine vision technology to ensure continuous innovation and improvement. This collaboration highlights the commitment of both companies to provide cutting-edge solutions for the energy and industrial sectors.
Yokogawa was founded in 1915 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It has more than 120 subsidiaries and more than 17,000 employees in 62 countries and regions around the world. It operates in the three major areas of measurement, control and information. It is a professional multinational company in the industrial control industry. It pioneered the development of the world's first distributed control system (DCS system) in 1975. So far, it has launched 9 generations of CENTUM DCS series products, and field instruments such as flow meters, transmitters, and analyzers have also been highly praised by users.
Masaharu Maeda, Vice President, Executive Officer and Head of Solutions Business Unit at Yokogawa, said: "We are very pleased to be working with Shell in this key technology area. This technology is expected to address the workforce challenges faced by plant owners by significantly improving the efficiency of field inspections while reducing the inherent risks faced by operators. We look forward to bringing it to global industrial facility owners in the near future to contribute to a safer and more efficient workplace."
Shell is a global energy and petrochemical company group. Its history can be traced back to the establishment of "Shell Transport Company" in 1833, and merged with Royal Dutch in 1907 to form Royal Dutch Shell Group. In 2022, it was renamed Shell. The company is headquartered in London. Its main businesses include five categories: integrated gas and upstream, chemical products, and renewable energy and energy solutions. As of the end of 2023, Shell has approximately 103,000 employees, explores for oil and gas in more than 50 countries, and has business activities in more than 130 countries and regions. In 2023, it had total assets of US$406.27 billion and annual core revenue of US$323.183 billion, ranking 9th on the Fortune Global 500 list.
Gerben de Jong, Shell Integrated Gas, Upstream and Projects & Technology Chief Information Officer, said: "Shell and Yokogawa have a long history of jointly developing advanced automation solutions to serve our sites. With this agreement, we are taking our relationship to a new level. The combination of robotic solutions and artificial intelligence has the potential to achieve a leapfrog change in productivity and safety."
The cooperation between Yokogawa and Shell is not only a model of technological integration in the fields of industrial automation and energy, but also marks a new stage in the application of robotics and AI technologies in factory operation and maintenance scenarios. Driven by technological innovation, the two parties rely on the collaborative platform of the Amsterdam Energy Transition Park to deeply integrate machine vision and intelligent management systems, which not only provides a practical solution to the industry's labor challenges, but also lays a solid foundation for promoting the transformation of industrial facilities to autonomous and intelligent operation. With the advancement of the pilot project and the continuous iteration of technology, this innovative achievement is expected to reshape the operation and maintenance model of the energy and chemical industry and inject new vitality into the safe and efficient development of the global industrial field.
