Nio Robotics builds Aru, an autonomous inspection and maintenance robot for large‑scale industrial facilities such as thermal, nuclear, hydro, solar, and wind plants. Its polymorphic locomotion and modular payload system enable high‑resolution visual, thermal, LiDAR, and radiation sensing, as well as surface preparation and coating tasks, delivering real‑time condition monitoring and predictive maintenance to improve safety and reduce downtime.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Industrial facilities such as thermal, nuclear, hydro, solar, and wind plants require frequent inspection and maintenance of equipment and structures, but these tasks often involve hazardous environments, limited accessibility, and significant downtime.
Solution
Aru, the robot developed by Nio Robotics, provides an autonomous platform that can navigate complex industrial sites using a polymorphic design that combines the agility of snake, rover, quadruped, and humanoid robots. Its modular payload system allows integration of high‑resolution cameras, thermal imagers, LiDAR, and radiation sensors to perform detailed condition monitoring, fault diagnosis, and mapping. The robot operates on automated patrols, delivering real‑time data to operators and supporting predictive maintenance, which reduces manual labor, improves safety, and minimizes equipment downtime. Predictive maintenance tools and a single‑compass design simplify field servicing and spare‑part logistics.
Target Audience
Primary customers are operators and maintenance teams of large‑scale industrial facilities—including thermal power plants, nuclear sites, hydroelectric, solar farms, and wind farms—that need safe, efficient inspection and upkeep of equipment and infrastructure.
Features
- Polymorphic locomotion that switches between snake‑like, rover, quadruped, and humanoid modes for access to hard‑to‑reach areas
- Modular payload bay supporting interchangeable sensors (high‑resolution visual, thermal imaging, LiDAR, radiation detection) and tools for surface preparation or coating application
- Integrated autonomous patrol and fault‑diagnosis software with real‑time monitoring and mapping capabilities
- Predictive maintenance system using a single replicated compass component to streamline spare‑part inventory and field repairs
- Capability to perform anti‑corrosion treatments and apply protective coatings on industrial structures