Autonomous inspection robots - Approaches to the AI Act and EU machinery legislation

Production facilities in sectors such as energy, oil, gas, nuclear technology and electricity supply are essential for the economy and society. Technical failures can have serious consequences – for safety, the environment and security of supply. Regular inspections are therefore essential; however, they are often time-consuming and hazardous. In addition, fewer and fewer specialists are available to carry them out.

Autonomous inspection robots offer a promising solution. They can collect large amounts of data around the
clock, analyse it using artificial intelligence (AI) and perform numerous tasks independently. This eases the burden on specialists, avoids hazardous operations and increases operational safety.

However, the use of such systems raises complex regulatory issues. Since the EU AI Act came into force, many Swiss robotics companies have faced the question of how to comply with this legislation and other relevant EU requirements such as the Machinery Regulation.

As part of the Innovation Sandbox for AI and based on a use case by ANYbotics, the Office for Economy of the Canton of Zurich and the Center for Information Technology, Society, and Law (ITSL) at the University of Zurich have developed strategies for dealing with regulatory requirements for autonomous inspection systems.

The findings are intended to support further robotics companies and facilitate access to the EU market.

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