Calgary’s Blackline Safety is extending its connected gas detection technology into robotic inspection workflows through a new partnership with MFE Inspection Solutions.
The companies have integrated Blackline’s cloud-connected portable detector with Boston Dynamics’ Spot, the mobile industrial robot used to collect inspection data in hazardous environments. The MFE Spot Connected Gas Detection Solution delivers gas readings, alerts, and location data to remote monitoring teams before personnel are sent into potentially dangerous areas.
“Gas detection is critical for safety. And teams are no longer limited to collecting that data only when a person enters the area,” said Dylan Duke, CEO of MFE Inspection Solutions. “Robots like Spot are already being used to collect inspection data remotely in hazardous environments. This solution adds real-time gas detection to those workflows, giving operators insight into gas hazards before deciding how and when to send people in.”
Industrial gas monitoring has traditionally relied on personal monitors worn by workers. Blackline says connected gas detection gives teams access to live gas data from multiple sources, including personal monitors, area monitors, robots, and drones, helping organizations make faster safety decisions.
“This is about connecting technologies customers are already using and making them more useful together,” said Christine Gillies, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Blackline Safety. “MFE has built the digital plumbing to connect Spot with Blackline’s connected gas detection platform, adding another layer to worker protection while giving organizations critical exposure data as it happens, not after the fact like with traditional monitors, so they can make informed decisions in the moment.”
The solution allows operators to view gas readings and alerts in Blackline Safety’s Blackline Live software and directly on Spot’s tablet during operation. It can also trigger automated return-to-home actions when defined gas thresholds, such as rising LEL levels, are detected.
The system can be configured with hot-swappable, cartridge-based sensors for different industrial environments. Oil and gas operators can monitor combustible gases such as methane or LEL conditions, semiconductor facilities can detect gases such as ammonia, and chemical processing plants can monitor for toxic gases including hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide.
“Spot’s thermal, acoustic, and visual inspection abilities provide AI-powered predictive insights into facility health,” said Merry Frayne, Senior Director of Product at Boston Dynamics. “Integrating the Blackline Safety portable device gives process manufacturers an even more complete picture of their site while keeping people out of harm’s way.”
MFE will support deployment of the solution with Blackline Safety by helping customers determine where robotic gas detection fits within their existing safety and inspection workflows. That includes evaluating site needs, configuring the right gas detection setup, training personnel, supporting implementation, and remaining engaged after deployment so the system is used effectively in real field conditions.
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