Boston-based tech firm Square Robot, known for its submarine-inspired robots that inspect tanks in the oil and gas sector, has successfully raised $5 million in a recent funding round. This investment will be channeled into the expansion and development of its innovative robot fleet, aiming to increase its count from seven to 11 robots.
A central tenet behind Square Robot's initiative is to negate the need to place individuals in perilous, confined spaces and to avert the deactivation of tanks for inspection purposes. Their flagship robot, the SR-1, boasts an advanced internal autonomy engine. This engine amalgamates guidance plans, real-time navigation data, and an intricate control system to facilitate independent inspections.
A key feature of the SR-1 robot is its sediment removal system, which purges sediment from tank bottoms before embarking on its main inspection task. The robot then employs its Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) array to inspect the tank base for thickness, amassing a staggering 18,000 A-Scans per square foot. All collected data is instantaneously scrutinized by Square Robot’s technical operators to ensure optimal data acquisition and quality.
Companies can hire the robots, which come with a dedicated three-person support crew, for inspecting above-ground tanks. These tanks typically contain liquids ranging from oil, gasoline, and diesel to jet fuel, ethanol, and even water.
Crosstown Capital LP has been identified as the principal investor in this funding round. As part of the investment agreement, Milton Lovell, the managing partner of Crosstown Capital, will be joining the Square Robot board.
Brian Kinsey, the Chief Growth Officer at Square Robot, shared the company's ambitious roadmap with Hart Energy, revealing plans to establish a robotic fleet of over 100 units in the coming five to ten years.
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