Summary
Equinor, a global energy company, is transforming its field operations through advanced robotics and AI. Powered by Cognite Data Fusion®, this initiative is currently executed at Equinor's Sture plant, focusing on the role of robots, from simple data collectors to intelligent, autonomous enablers of predictive maintenance and safer operations.
The Challenge: Slow field insights due to manual, isolated data collection
Field operations in complex industrial environments require frequent inspections, often performed manually in hazardous locations.
This means critical observations, like corrosion spots, pressure anomalies, or safety hazards, can take hours or even days to be logged, analyzed, and acted upon. In that period, small issues can escalate into costly equipment failures, unplanned downtime, or even safety incidents.
Equinor experienced challenges in scaling robotics for industrial operations. These operations included the launch of autonomous inspections, the integration of robotics data with operational systems, and embedding robots into daily workflows.
The Solution: Smarter, AI-powered data integration & analysis
Equinor knew they needed to invest in better technology to take field robotics from pilot to everyday operations. Partnering with Cognite, they built that foundation with Cognite Data Fusion® — integrating, contextualizing, and enabling AI on operational data. What started at the Technology Center Mongstad (TCM), has now expanded as a pilot to the Sture oil terminal and Mongstad refinery, giving a possible multi-site rollout of advanced field robotics. The use of TCM as a test arena in the start was important in the process of preparing the robots for use in zone 2 classified areas.
The two robots being used in this project are:
- Boston Dynamics’ Spot: Spot has run more than 1000 autonomous inspection rounds, capturing visual and audio data, uploaded to Cognite Data Fusion to detect anomalies and learn equipment behavior patterns from different Equinor sites.
- Adigo Mechatronics’ VÅK robot and Sampling station: Våk conducts fully autonomous water sampling operations at Sture, supporting more efficient and reliable environmental monitoring.
Robots collect and stream data to Cognite Data Fusion®, where AI analyzes it to detect anomalies. This process aligns field observations with equipment status, enabling engineers to make faster, better-informed decisions.
For Equinor, the value of combining robotics with Cognite Data Fusion® lies in gaining entirely new insight and competence into plant equipment, far beyond what was previously possible. This deeper understanding allows Equinor to optimize plant processes, cut inefficiencies, and reduce emissions. The synergy between robotics and Cognite Data Fusion® not only strengthens operational performance but also supports Equinor’s commitment to the green shift.
The Impact: Quicker insights, smoother operations
The “Robot in Wastewater Treatment Plant” project passed the DNV standard for TRL4: ISO Standard 20818:2018 in May 2025, proving the technology is ready for first operational use.
Early impact includes:
- Faster Fault Detection: Real-time anomaly identification allows earlier intervention, reducing downtime risk.
- Increased Safety: Robots perform inspections in hazardous zones, reducing human exposure.
- Smarter Maintenance: AI-enhanced workflows transition maintenance from reactive to condition-based.
- Data-Driven Scale: Robots across three sites stream standardized, contextualized data into a single system of record, setting the stage for scalable, repeatable operations.
- Time Saved: Shift from manual inspection to automated intelligence
By embedding AI-powered robotics into its operations, Equinor is building a more responsive and resilient frontline. With Cognite Data Fusion® as the backbone, they are unlocking the full value of robotic data, from capture to decision, to make industrial operations safer, smarter, and more efficient.