From rainforest to refinery: Soft robot reaches where no one else can
The startup XiniX AI has developed a soft robot that can wind its way into places where no one else can and deliver data that saves time, money, and human lives. They have now been granted one of the positions in the Danish Technological Institute’s robot incubator funded by Odense Robotics StartUp Fund.
Imagine a robot that can twist and squeeze its way into the most inaccessible corners of industrial facilities – without putting lives at risk and with the ability to deliver precise data about even the smallest defects.
This is exactly what the startup XiniX AI has developed with their soft robot.
− Hundreds of people die every year due to inspection work in dangerous confined spaces. Our technology can not only save lives but also revolutionise the way industry works, says the founder of XiniX AI, Eric Herrero, who has now established himself in Odense to take their technology to the next level.
XiniX AI's soft robot has secured them a ticket to Odense Robotics StartUp Fund, which gives robot and drone startups from Denmark and abroad access to soft funding, mentors, and a dedicated incubator environment at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) in Odense.
Can squeeze its way in
Many industries face challenges when it comes to inspecting confined spaces, and most solve them with drones.
But drones can fall short in cramped and dusty environments, which is not a problem for XiniX AI's robot, which can adapt to complex geometries and perform inspections with high precision – without creating the problems that drone propellers can cause.
− Our robot can be squeezed into spaces smaller than its own body and equipped with various sensors that can identify everything from corrosion to welding defects. This gives the industry the ability to act on precise data rather than guesswork, explains Eric Herrero.
From rainforest to refinery
XiniX AI has just been accepted into the robot incubator at Odense Robotics StartUp Fund, where the company will gain access to Denmark's leading robot environment at DTI. Here, the Belgian startup will mature their prototype into a commercial product ready for the market.
The story behind XiniX AI is as fascinating as the technology itself.
It all started in the tropical rainforest during the XPRIZE Rainforest competition in 2019, where the team originally developed technology to identify animal and plant species.
− After seeing the potential of our technology during the competition, we decided to adapt it for industrial use, explains Eric Herrero and continues:
− What originally could identify rare plants can now detect corrosion, welding defects, and cracks in industrial facilities. Right now, we're focusing on inspection with the robot, but it will also be able to take samples and similar tasks over time.