Oil and gas operators across the US and Canada are under mounting pressure from aging assets, workforce constraints, and intensifying ESG and emissions expectations. At the same time, they need to keep people out of hazardous, potentially explosive environments while protecting production and uptime, and keeping pace with emerging safety and certification standards that are reshaping how hazardous-location technologies are evaluated and deployed.
MicroWatt Controls and ExRobotics recently hosted a small, exclusive reception in Houston for asset owners and senior operations leaders to mark the launch of the UL 6260 certified ExR‑2.5 inspection robot. Bringing together a select group of decision-makers from upstream, midstream, downstream and LNG facilities, the event showcased how hazardous-location robotics can help protect people, strengthen asset integrity, and support data-driven strategies for uptime, emissions, and risk governance across complex oil and gas operations.
What is UL 6260?
UL 6260, the Outline of Investigation for Remotely‑Operated Inspection and Maintenance Equipment for Hazardous (Classified) Locations, is a new certification framework developed by UL Solutions to evaluate remotely operated inspection and maintenance robots used in hazardous locations as defined by the National Electrical Code. It focuses on risks such as fire, explosion, electric shock and mechanical hazards in potentially explosive atmospheres, helping confirm that certified robots can operate safely without becoming an ignition source. For more information about UL 6260 and UL Solutions’ certification program for hazardous-location robots, visit UL Solutions’ UL 6260 overview.
The ExR‑2.5 is the first inspection robot in the world certified under UL 6260 for use in potentially explosive environments, with Class I, Division 2, Groups C and D, T4 certification. This new framework provides a dedicated safety pathway for robotic inspection systems in areas where flammable gases, vapours, or dusts may be present, ensuring the robot itself cannot become an ignition source.
The ExR‑2.5, now UL 6260‑certified and available through MicroWatt Controls, gives operators a practical way to embed inspection robotics into hazardous-location strategies without compromising safety or compliance.
Turning repetitive rounds into data-driven insights
Built specifically for hazardous locations, the ExR‑2.5 automates repetitive inspection rounds so frontline personnel can focus on higher-value analysis and decision-making. Equipped with a multi-sensor payload, the robot collects consistent, repeatable data on:
- Emissions monitoring and gas leak detection
- Visual and thermal anomalies on critical equipment
- Changes in process and environmental conditions across the facility
For teams looking to accelerate digitalization, the ExR‑2.5 becomes a cornerstone of broader Industry 4.0, robotics, and data strategies—bridging the gap between field conditions and enterprise analytics.
LiDAR-based navigation and autonomous data collection ensure every inspection mission follows the same path, building a reliable time-series view of asset and facility health. Over time, this supports predictive maintenance, reduced unplanned downtime, and more confident risk-based decisions in upstream, midstream, and downstream operations, including LNG and petrochemical facilities.
Proven in the field, ready for North American operations
The ExR‑2.5 platform is trusted by major operators worldwide, including Shell, BP, and Repsol, with thousands of successful robotic inspection missions completed across upstream and downstream operations, LNG, and chemical facilities. By combining this track record with UL 6260 certification, MicroWatt helps North American operators move from pilot projects to scaled deployment with a solution that has already been proven in complex industrial environments.
Local assembly, integration, and lifecycle support
As ExRobotics’ exclusive North American distributor, assembler, and service provider, MicroWatt delivers the local expertise needed to deploy certified robotic inspection systems in line with regional codes and standards. From hazardous-location design reviews to commissioning, operator training, and ongoing service, MicroWatt supports customers through every stage of the robot’s operational life.
This combination of certified technology and local support helps operators reduce risk, standardize inspection routes, and embed robotic inspection into existing safety, emissions, and asset-integrity programs.
Supporting safety, uptime, and ESG goals
By automating inspections in Class I, Division 2 areas, operators can remove workers from routine exposure to hazardous atmospheres while still maintaining—or improving—situational awareness. Consistent, high-quality data from the ExR‑2.5 also supports emissions baselines, leak-detection and repair (LDAR) programs, and reporting against corporate ESG and decarbonization commitments.
For US and Canadian operators navigating regulatory expectations alongside economic pressures, certified robotic inspection provides a way to strengthen process safety, extend asset life, and improve operational resilience.
Learn more
MicroWatt Controls works with upstream, midstream, downstream, and petrochemical customers across North America to design and deploy hazardous-area robotic inspection solutions tailored to their facilities.
To explore how UL 6260-certified robotic inspection can fit into your safety, emissions, and digitalization roadmap, contact our robotics team or learn more about certification and robot safety.