ANYbotics, a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) that builds four-legged inspection robots, has started shipping its first ANYmal X units. According to the press release published by Startupticker.ch on 28 October 2026, the model targets oil, gas and chemical sites, where the atmosphere can become explosive. Equinor and DSM-Firmenich are among the first customers served, after seven years of development.
What ANYbotics delivers with the ANYmal X
ANYbotics presents the ANYmal X as the world's first quadruped inspection robot designed for these hazardous areas. That is the company's own claim, and the press release backs it with no comparison. The robot carries out autonomous inspection rounds without the operator having to modify its facility. It climbs steep stairs and moves along narrow walkways.
The robot carries thermal, visual, acoustic and gas sensors. They detect overheating, leaks, abnormal noises and equipment wear. Each measurement is linked to the machine being inspected. Maintenance engineers thus have a baseline for tracking the condition of their facilities over time. The stated goal: to act before a small anomaly forces a costly plant shutdown.
The ANYmal X is not sold as a stand-alone machine. It runs on Shift, ANYbotics' operating platform for autonomous industrial inspection. Shift plans missions, sorts findings by equipment and tracks how they evolve. It connects to the software plants already use, including that of SAP, Yokogawa and SLB. The whole system is developed and operated under the ISO 27001 information security standard.
Seven years of development and trials with oil companies
Development of the ANYmal X began in 2019. Through its early access programme, ANYbotics had it tested by BP, Equinor, Shell, PETRONAS, Petrobras, BASF and SLB. These early users put it through hundreds of missions, onshore and offshore. Their field feedback was used to develop the industrial version.
The milestone announced is a commercial launch, not a funding round or a new partnership. The press release mentions no financing. It gives neither the robot's price nor the number of units being shipped.
What explosion protection involves
According to the press release, the ANYmal X is designed to meet explosion protection standards: ATEX (explosive atmospheres) in Europe and IECEx worldwide. In an area where flammable gases linger, a spark or an overheated surface is enough to cause an accident. Hence a defensive design, part by part:
- the artificial intelligence (AI) computer and the inspection instruments are housed in sealed chambers filled with nitrogen;
- non-metallic shells insulate the metal components;
- conductive feet provide grounding;
- automatic cut-offs monitor temperature;
- the twelve leg actuators and the battery are protected by flameproof enclosures;
- charging and data transmission go through energy barriers, so that no connection is exposed to the hazardous area.
The onboard software checks the robot's condition before, during and after each mission. ANYbotics also tests its resistance to shocks, vibrations, corrosion, solar radiation and salt spray. The aim is to verify that the protections hold up in normal use.
For Thierry Obédé, Chief Commercial Officer of ANYbotics, compliance is not enough to sell. “A certified robot is only the entry ticket to inspecting oil, gas and chemical facilities,” he says in the press release. He presents the ANYmal X as a complete inspection solution, designed for performance, safety and security.
ANYbotics in figures
The available figures come from two sources: the press release of 28 October 2026 and the PME magazine feature on Swiss robotics, covered by 2clics on 21 October 2026.
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Year founded | 2016 | PME |
| Start of ANYmal X development | 2019 | Press release |
| Employees | More than 200 | PME |
| Funds raised | About CHF 120 million | PME |
| Customers in energy, metals and materials | More than 50 | Press release (Thierry Obédé) |
| Autonomous inspections per month | More than 120,000 | Press release (Thierry Obédé) |
| Inspection points collected per month | More than 150,000 | PME |
The last two figures do not measure the same thing. One counts inspections, the other measurement points recorded by the fleet. They cannot be added together and do not allow any growth to be calculated. According to PME, AI sorts this data to spot anomalies, but humans have the final say on how it is interpreted.
What this milestone says about Swiss robotics
ANYbotics serves as a reference point in PME's feature on where Swiss robotics stands against China. Jan Kerschgens, co-director of the Swiss Center for Digital Sovereignty, sees the country's strength in integrating embedded AI into industrial robotics. He also points to the weak spot: the lack of domestic growth capital.
In the same feature, Christian Jansen, a partner at McKinsey & Company, advises Swiss companies not to compete on volume. He recommends building security into products and selling complete subsystems rather than components. On paper, the ANYmal X ticks these boxes: built-in explosion protection and a robot delivered with its software platform. It remains to be seen whether sales will follow.
Other young Swiss robotics companies are at very different stages. The table places them based on 2clics articles. It provides reference points, not a ranking.
| Company | Specialty | Latest known milestone |
|---|---|---|
| ANYbotics | Quadruped inspection robots | Shipment of the first ANYmal X units, October 2026 |
| Distalmotion | DEXTER surgical robot | Loan of up to $70 million, October 2026 |
| Enact Intelligence (Zurich) | Force- and touch-sensitive robots | $30 million pre-seed round, October 2026 |
| Flexion (Zurich) | “Brain” for humanoid robots | $50 million raised in 2025 |
The comparison highlights ANYbotics' maturity. The Zurich start-up Enact Intelligence raised 30 million dollars on 22 October 2026, with no robot in service yet. The medtech company Distalmotion is financing its surgical robot with debt to expand into the United States. ANYbotics, for its part, is moving from pilot trials to shipping an industrial product. The PME feature also cites Ascento, another ETH Zurich spin-off, which specialises in security robots.
What we don't know yet
- The price of the ANYmal X and how it is sold, purchase or subscription, have not been published.
- The number of robots shipped and the delivery schedule remain unknown.
- The press release says the robot is designed to meet the ATEX and IECEx standards, without naming the certification body or the zone categories covered.
- No customer in Switzerland is named among the first served.
- ANYbotics' revenue and profitability do not appear in any of the sources.
Sources
- Startupticker.ch: first ANYmal X units for explosive zones (in English, 28 October 2026)
- 2clics.com: “Swiss robotics and artificial intelligence: where does it stand against China?” (21 October 2026), based on PME magazine
