How Are Robots Tested for Harsh Conditions?
Advanced robots can spare human workers from dangerous or life-threatening conditions and environments - like the intricate underwater terrain of a search-and-rescue mission or extreme pressures faced by oil and gas workers. Robots aren't invincible, however, and they need to be carefully designed to handle these extreme conditions. Here are some of the extreme environments that robots face - and how designers test them
University of Texas "opens Doors" to Safer Nuclear Waste Retrieval
The Nuclear and Applied Robotics Group, based in the University of Texas at Austin, has a mission to "develop and deploy advanced robotics in hazardous environments to minimize risk for the human operator."
How Robots Are Changing Nuclear Disaster Protocols
Despite modern advancements, a great deal of robots, such as the one deployed to Fukushima in March 2017, have died as a result of the high radiation levels.
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Featured Product
IP Seals for Robots
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies' IPRS (Ingress Protection Seals for Robots) provides reliable protection for robotic systems operating in harsh environments. Designed to prevent dust, moisture, chemicals, and wear from compromising performance, IPRS extends service life and reduces maintenance. The adaptive Z-shaped geometry ensures sealing integrity under continuous motion, making it ideal for high-speed automation and outdoor applications. Manufactured with high-performance elastomers such as Fluoroprene XP and EPDM, IPRS offers exceptional resistance to lubricants, cleaning agents, and extreme temperatures. This makes it the perfect solution for six-axis robots, SCARA robots, AMRs, AGVs, and cobots.
With its low-friction design and durable materials, IPRS enhances energy efficiency and operational reliability in industrial and autonomous robotics. Learn more about our IPRS Seals
Robotics and Automation - Featured Company
ResinDek / Cornerstone Specialty Wood Products
As the manufacturer of ResinDek® panels, we have been at the forefront of testing and innovating flooring panels for the Material Handling Industry since 1994. In 2007, we began providing ResinDek panels for automated warehouse distribution robots. Much of our initial research and development occurred with Automated Guided Vehicles. In the last decade, we have provided a variety of ResinDek engineered flooring products to numerous Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) and Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) manufacturers for their testing labs. As a result, millions of square feet of ResinDek panels are in service worldwide with robotic traffic in distribution centers, warehouses, microfulfillment centers, and retail environments.
