In 2026, Severstal intends to significantly expand testing of quadruped robots at its production sites and begin integrating wheeled rovers. This was reported by the company's press service, emphasizing that the robotic solutions are aimed at improving industrial safety and operational efficiency.
At the end of November, large-scale tests of autonomous robodog navigation took place at Severstal-Metiz. The robot, equipped with software developed by the R&D team of Severstal-Infokom, moved around the site for several days without operator intervention, transported samples, and demonstrated resilience in a challenging industrial environment. Engineers assessed its autonomy, response to dynamic obstacles such as rails, cranes, and forklifts, and endurance without recharging. Based on the test results, the developers have already identified areas for software improvement.
In addition to transportation, the robodog was used for preventive technical monitoring. In coke-sinter-blast furnace production, it tracked gas concentrations and temperature anomalies in the blast furnace tuyere zone, critical points where emergency situations are possible. At the coke chemical production facility, the robot performed thermal imaging inspection of coke oven battery sections, recording the presence of open flame.