The pilot demonstrates how robotics, secure digital identity and access management can work together in a live industrial environment. The so called “Anymal” robot from Anybotics uses a secure digital credential to request access to controlled areas. Dormakaba’s access management and door automation then apply the same access rules used for authorised personnel, allowing the robot to pass through doors without manual intervention.

“Autonomous robots are becoming part of the workforce in industrial environments. Like people, they need reliable and secure access to the areas where they perform their tasks. Together with our partners, we are showing how access management can enable robots to move securely and autonomously through controlled environments while keeping access firmly under the operator’s control,” says Till Reuter, CEO of Dormakaba.

Opening the door to autonomous inspection

Autonomous mobile robots are increasingly being used for inspection and monitoring in industrial facilities. They can perform repetitive tasks, collect data, and identify potential problems while reducing the need for people to enter potentially hazardous areas.

Access-controlled doors, however, can become a barrier for autonomous machines. The joint pilot addresses this challenge by giving the robot a secure digital identity and integrating it into existing access processes. The robot can request access electronically and the access management system determines whether the door should open based on predefined permissions.

This allows operators to maintain control over who or what can access specific areas, regardless of whether the authorised user is a person or an autonomous machine.

Proven in a live operating environment

The pilot was conducted at GE Vernova’s Whitegate power plant in County Cork, Ireland, in a live operating environment. The Anymal robot has been operating reliably for several weeks, repeatedly requesting access, passing through controlled doors, and continuing its inspection routes without manual intervention.

The pilot also demonstrates how the three technologies are integrated: Anybotics provides the autonomous mobile robot and robotics platform, Legic provides the secure digital credential technology, and Dormakaba provides the access management and automated door solutions.

The partners are now working to make the solution commercially available while exploring further applications, including access to elevators, gates, and turnstiles.

Dormakaba, Anybotics, and Legic also presented the pilot at the Legic Connect26 event in Zurich last week.