Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting Mauricio from Chevron at our office. The visit included detailed inspection qualification sessions at our test and training facilities, followed by an on-site application assessment at TÜPRAŞ Kırıkkale Refinery.

We are proud to showcase our robotic tank inspection solution, particularly through sensitivity evaluations, performance reviews and safety assessments.

This underscores our company’s growth journey, and we are honoured to have global partners interested in our technology. A sincere thank you to Mauricio Calva and Brandon Baylor for their collaboration and support throughout this process.

Stay tuned for more updates from the field, exciting things are on the horizon!

Chevron AIS Field Visit yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

In energy, petrochemical, and storage tank industries, safety is not a target, it is a non-negotiable requirement. Every equipment that enters a refinery, tank terminal or a petrochemical plant must operate without creating ignition risk. This requirement becomes significantly more critical when operations involve explosive atmospheres such as hydrocarbon vapors, flammable gases or volatile residues inside storage tanks.

At AIS Field, our mission is to bring digital technologies, mainly robotics, safely into these hazardous environments. With ATEX-certified, in-service inspection robots like our RUVI OilDiver, we enable clients to carry out inspection and asset integrity tasks without shutdown and decommissioning, without degassing and without exposing personnel to confined-space risks. This leads to significant cost savings for our customers.

To understand how and why this is possible, this article provides an overview of explosive atmospheres, ATEX certification, hazardous area classifications in refineries and storage tanks, and how AIS Field meets and exceeds these standards.

What is an explosive atmosphere?

An explosive atmosphere exists when a mixture of flammable substances (gas, vapor or dust) and air is present in conditions where a single ignition source can trigger a combustion event. In industrial facilities, especially refineries and petroleum storage tanks, these atmospheres can occur near fuel handling areas, inside or above storage tanks, during transfer operations, inside process units, around leakages, inside floating roof drain sumps etc. Explosiveness is describes by the ignition triangle:

1. Fuel (vapor, gas, dust)
2. Oxygen (air)
3. Ignition source (electrical spark, heat, static discharge, mechanical friction)

When all three are present, an ignition can occur. ATEX standards aim to eliminate at least one element these through rigorous design, testing and certification of all equipment operating in these conditions.

What is ATEX Certification and its Role?

ATEX derives its name from “ATmosphères EXplosibles”. ATEX, IECEx and NFPA/NEC standards form the global framework for ensuring equipment safety in explosive atmospheres. ATEX (EU) and IECEx (international) share nearly identical technical foundations, both based on IEC 60079, and they certify that equipment will not become an ignition source in areas with flammable gases, vapors or dust. ATEX is a legal requirement within the European Union, while IECEx is a voluntary but widely respected global conformity system used across many regions. In the United States, hazardous locations are regulated under NEC/CEC Class & Division standards. Although the frameworks differ in structure [Zones (ATEX/IECEx) vs. Classes & Divisions (NEC)] all three aim to classify hazardous areas and verify that equipment is engineered with explosion-proof and intrinsically safe protection methods. For companies operating internationally, understanding these systems is crucial, as each imposes rigorous design, testing, documentation and marking requirements to ensure safe operation of electrical and mechanical equipment in explosive atmospheres.

ATEX consists of two EU directives:

• ATEX 2014/34/EU (Equipment Directive) – Defines requirements for equipment used in explosive atmospheres
• ATEX 1999/92/EC (Workplace Directive) – Defines safety obligations for employers operating such workplaces

For a piece of equipment to be ATEX-certified, it must be engineered to prevent ignition through mechanisms such as:

• Flame or explosion proof enclosure (d-type): The enclosure withstands an internal explosion without rupturing.
• Increased safety (e-type): No arcs, sparks or dangerous temperatures allowed during normal operation.
• Intrinsic safety (i-type): Limits electrical energy and temperature so ignition cannot occur.
• Pressurization and purging (p-type): Positive pressure inside enclosure prevents entry of explosive gas, generally includes purging cycles with an inert gas before energizing.
• Encapsulation (m-type): Components are fully embedded in resin to prevent contact with explosive atmosphere.
• Oil immersion (o-type): Potential ignition parts are immersed in oil, preventing contact.
• Powder/sand filling (q-type): Components are surrounded by powder to prevent ignition.
• Non-sparking (n-type): Equipment designed to avoid arcs, sparks or hot surfaces under normal operation. Limited to Zone 2 only.
• Dust enclosure (t-type): For dust atmospheres, preventing dust ingress and limits surface temperatures.
• Non-electrical equipment protection (h-type): For mechanical equipment, including constructional safety, control of ignition sources and liquid immersion.

In robotics, implementing ATEX compliance becomes significantly more complex. Unlike static equipment, robotic systems move, use multiple motors and actuators, require sensor payloads, consume varying levels of electrical power, operate with dynamic loads, handle data acquisition, communication and real-time control.

Hazardous Area Classification: ATEX Zones Explained

ATEX divides hazardous areas into Zones based on the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere being present.

Gas/Vapor Zones (G):

• Zone 0: Explosive atmosphere is continuously present or present for long periods
• Zone 1: Likely to occur during normal operation
• Zone 2: Not likely during normal operation, or only for short durations

Dust Zones (D):

• Zone 20: Continuous presence of combustible dust
• Zone 21: Likely presence during normal operation
• Zone 22: Unlikely but possible presence, only for short duration

For hydrocarbon industries, gas zones are most relevant. Equipment that operates inside or near these zones must comply with specific ATEX categories. Zone 0 is category 1 (very high protection), Zone 1 is category 2 (high protection) and Zone 2 is Category 3 (normal protection. The closer to the source of hydrocarbons, the stricter the certification.

ATEX Zones in Refineries and Storage Tanks

Refineries contain a wide range of units and assets with high risk of vapor release. Common ATEX-classified areas include process units, crude distillation, vacuum distillation, hydrocracker, reformers, FCC units, alkylation units etc. These units often include Zone 1 classifications due to continuous or frequent hydrocarbon vapor presence. For example in tank farm areas: storage tank perimeters, floating roof seals, vents, breathing systems and drain sumps often include Zone 0/1 classifications. Understanding these classifications is essential for planning inspections, robotic deployment and maintenance work.

Storage tanks hold large volumes of crude oil, naphtha, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other flammable liquids. They present unique hazardous area conditions. Inside the tank, above liquid level is continuous vapor presence and it is classified as Zone 0. Manhole areas are typically classified as Zone 1 and roof and shell areas are generally Zone 2. These may slightly change depending on the tank and terminal design.

Given these classifications, any robot entering a storage tank (i.e. submerged in product) must be certified. This is exactly where RUVI OilDiver stands out.

AIS Field’s ATEX Capabilities

At AIS Field, with over 20 years experience working in refinery and explosive environments, and 10 years of experience in designing ATEX-compliant systems, we specialize in designing inspection robots that operate safely inside explosive or high-risk environments. Our engineering approach integrates a combination of protection systems. These capabilities allow us to develop and use robots suitable for in-service refinery and above ground storage tank operations, something only a few companies globally can deliver.

RUVI OilDiver is our flagship in-service tank floor inspection robot, designed for fuel and chemical storage tanks. RUVI OilDiver is ATEX Zone 0 certified, fully capable of operating in storage tank environments mentioned above.

The products we inspected with RUVI OilDiver so far:

• Gasoline (with and without high benzene)
• Methanol
• Naphtha (both heavy and regular)
• Kerosene
• Jet fuel
• Diesel
• Lubricants

For new petrochemical or chemical products, we perform submergence tests in our workshop to ensure compatibility. For example, RUVI OilDiver system can be used in Xylene storage tanks.

Thanks to this approach, our clients receive safer inspections, shorter downtimes, reduced gas freeing and degassing activities and better compliance with API 653, API 575, EEMUA 159 and EEMUA 247 standards.

Contact us if you would like to see our certifications and to get more information about our engineering approach.

Why ATEX Matters for In-service Robotic Inspection

• Robotic inspection drastically reduces the need for human entry into hazardous zones.
• Avoiding conventional maintenance and shutdown can save millions per tank.
• In-service robots operate without disrupting operations.
• Regulatory compliance is key, for many industrial facilities ATEX certification is a must.
• From the perspective of environmental responsibility: by applying ATEX certified systems, unnecessary hydrocarbon emissions also prevented.

AIS Field ATEX certified RUVI OilDiver system helps facilities achieve all of these outcomes simultaneously.

AIS Field: Leading the Future of ATEX-Safe Robotics

As energy infrastructure becomes more complex, the demand for safer, more reliable robotic inspection will only increase. Explosive atmospheres and ATEX classification are not just regulatory topics, they directly shape how industrial facilities manage risk. As robotics becomes the new standard for in-service and confined-space inspections, the ability to safely operate within ATEX zones becomes a major differentiator.

As AIS Field, we have built our systems around this requirement. Through engineering, strict safety principles and real-world deployment experience, our robots offer unmatched capability in hazardous environments. RUVI OilDiver and our broader family of robotic inspection tools enable refineries and tank terminals to turn the most challenging inspection tasks into safe, predictable and non-intrusive operations. If your facility is seeking safer, faster, and ATEX-compatible inspection solutions, AIS Field is here to support you, with proven systems trusted across multiple continents.

Understanding ATEX Certification and Explosive Atmospheres in Refineries and Storage Tanks: How AIS Field Ensures Safe and Reliable In-Service Robotics yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

SPRINT Robotics has long been recognized as the leading platform where key industry stakeholders exchange knowledge, share experiences and showcase advancements that are shaping the future of inspection and maintenance. As the only service provider member from Turkiye, as AIS Field we are happy to participate once again. Our first participation dates back to 2019 as visitors, and since then, we have witnessed significant growth in the community, with more companies, technologies and collaborations emerging every year. The current landscape of robotic inspection is more exciting than ever, reflecting technological progress and a strong shift toward automation and digitalization.

At our booth, we presented our robotic inspection systems: namely the ATEX-certified RUVI OilDiver, designed for API 653-compliant in-service inspections of above-ground storage tanks, and the RUVI WallKer, a magnetic crawler specialized for inspecting confined and difficult-to-access areas such as power plant boilers and storage tank shells. Both systems have been developed in-house by AIS Field’s engineering team and are currently being deployed in multiple industrial sites worldwide, providing safer, faster and more cost-effective inspection solutions.

This year’s conference was an incredibly fruitful experience, offering valuable opportunities to meet partners, explore collaborations and exchange ideas with global leaders. We are proud to be part of this growing community and look forward to returning next year to share new developments as inspection and maintenance robotics continue to evolve and redefine industrial operations.

AIS Field at SPRINT Robotics World Conference 2025 yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

As AIS Field, two of our systems have been extremely active this year.

The first is RUVI OilDiver, an in-service robotic tank inspection system. This robot operates submerged inside above ground storage tanks containing petroleum and chemical products. Having inspected more than 30 tanks worldwide so far, including those storing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha, the system continues to deliver consistent value. Equipped with an ultrasonic inspection system and cameras, it performs corrosion mapping and visual inspections fully compliant with API 653, API 575, EEMUA 159 and EEMUA 247 standards. Thanks to this inspection robot, tank owners can conduct detailed inspections without any downtime.

The second is RUVI WallKer, a magnetic crawler designed for boiler inspections. With its permanent magnet wheels, the system climbs boiler waterwalls and inspects up to 16 tubes simultaneously, taking ultrasonic thickness measurements at every millimetre. It also includes cameras for visual inspection. Entire boilers can be inspected within just a few days, without scaffolding or human entry, providing major benefits to power plants in terms of cost, time and safety.

Both of these robotic systems have successfully completed national projects in Turkiye, inspecting power plant boilers and above ground storage tanks. They are now on their way to Spain and South Korea to complete final projects in 2025, and there are many more boilers and tanks ahead!

While our field teams are actively deployed with our inspection robots, our research and development engineers continue to drive innovation from our headquarters, developing next-generation versions of our systems and even prototyping new robotic maintenance solutions.

It has been an incredibly busy year, and we are proud of what we have achieved so far. Before the year ends, we will be announcing major updates that showcase our expansion across multiple continents.

Stay tuned for more updates from the field!

From Turkiye to the World: AIS Field’s Robots on a Mission yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

This 500 square meters dedicated facility has been designed to support our upcoming inspection and robotic development projects, providing a versatile environment for testing, validation and operator training. It will include mock-up assets replicating real-world industrial environments, enabling our engineers to conduct rigorous performance assessments on both existing systems and new innovations under development.

Beyond technical testing, the facility will serve as a central training hub for our site operations teams. Here, our field engineers and technicians will receive hands-on instruction in robotic operation, calibration, data collection and maintenance, ensuring that every AIS Field deployment meets the highest standards of safety, precision and efficiency. This facility will also act as a bridge between R&D and real-world applications, allowing us to shorten development cycles, validate new technologies faster and directly translate research outcomes into field-ready solutions. This capability will be instrumental as we prepare for large-scale projects planned for 2025 and 2026 and beyond in Türkiye, Europe and Asia.

By investing in this new infrastructure, AIS Field reaffirms its commitment to technological excellence and continuous improvement. Our goal is to deliver reliable, safe, and innovative inspection solutions that empower industries to operate more efficiently and sustainably.

We are excited about this milestone and look forward to sharing updates as the facility becomes operational. Stay tuned for more developments from AIS Field as we continue to innovate and grow globally.

AIS Field Expands Infrastructure with New Test and Training Facility yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

As one can imagine, partial inspection coverage introduces new challenges in data interpretation and risk evaluation. That is where EEMUA Publication 247 (2025 Edition): Statistical Analysis of In-Service Tank Floor Inspections comes in. The recently published EEMUA standard offers a comprehensive statistical framework for planning and evaluating partial-coverage robotic tank floor inspections. This was a significant and timely development for the robotic storage tank inspection industry.

At AIS Field, we provide oil tank inspections using our ATEX Zone 0 certified robotic system, RUVI OilDiver. Leveraging our experience and expertise, and building on the EEMUA 247 standard, we have developed a proprietary software tool that automates both the planning and statistical evaluation processes described in the publication. Additionally, following partial coverage inspections, evaluating the remaining life of the tank requires Extreme Value Analysis (EVA), as outlined in the API 575 standard. We have also developed a tool that automatically performs EVA following our tank inspections. In this article, we will introduce the key features of our software and the value it brings to tank operators, inspection providers and integrity engineers.

Understanding EEMUA 247

As mentioned, due to the nature of online robotic inspections, 100% of floor coverage is not always possible. EEMUA 247 provides detailed guidance on the optimum coverage and statistical analysis of in-service tank floor inspections using robotic tools. It categorizes inspections into three main types based on the presence and detectability of corrosion.

• Type A: Where no significant wall loss is expected.
• Type B: Where measurable wall loss is anticipated and statistical extrapolation is required.
• Type C: Where wall loss may be severe but isolated (requiring tailored justification).

The standard emphasizes the importance of:

• Corrosion risk assessment (CRA)
• Determination of corrosion density and spatial homogeneity
• Minimum inspection coverage calculations based on detection threshold and corrosion depth
• Use of Extreme Value Analysis (EVA), particularly Gumbel or Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distributions, to predict the probability of critical wall loss in uninspected areas.

About Our EEMUA 247-Based Software Tool

Our RUVI OilDiver Analytics Software Tool transforms the EEMUA 247 methodology into an intuitive, interactive platform for inspection planning and evaluation. Key capabilities include:

1. Coverage Calculation
2. Distribution Fitting and EVA Module
3. CRA Support and Density Classification
4. Automated Reporting and Visualization

You can see both our coverage calculator and EVA analysis interfaces in the screenshots above.

Why This Matters

In-service robotic inspections, by nature, cannot achieve 100% floor coverage, especially in large diameter tanks with numerous internal obstacles. Our approach, built on the EEMUA 247 and API 575 standards, enables asset owners to overcome this limitation by applying robust statistical analysis to make confident integrity decisions, even when only a portion of the floor is inspected.

In simpler terms, depending on the tank’s geometry and inspection history, we use the EEMUA 247 guidelines to calculate the minimum inspection coverage required for reliable integrity decisions. Once our robot covers that targeted portion, we perform Extreme Value Analysis (EVA) to accurately assess the tank’s remaining life and overall integrity condition. While RUVI OilDiver operates inside the tank, our inspection team also conducts a full API 653 inspection, allowing us to deliver a complete inspection package to our customers. This combined approach adds significant value to our clients’ operations.

By aligning fully with EEMUA 247, the tool ensures consistency, traceability and defensibility of the inspection strategy. Therse are critical elements in regulatory compliance and internal risk management processes.

Conclusion

Robotic inspection technology has advanced rapidly, but the real power lies in planning the inspection and interpreting the data correctly. By codifying the principles of EEMUA 247 and API 575 into our internal procedures and also a software solution, we provide tank operators and service providers with the analytical edge they need to make data-driven integrity decisions.

To learn more about our solutions, feel free to get in touch with our team.

Enhancing Integrity Management through EEMUA 247-Based Robotic Inspection Analytics yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

Our site operations team has been on the move, successfully mobilizing across a diverse range of facilities in Turkiye, Italy and South Korea. These deployments have demonstrated not only our technical capabilities but also our agility in adapting to different environments and client needs. Each location presented unique challenges and opportunities, and our teams meet them with dedication and professionalism.

At the same time, our engineering and innovation units have been operating at full speed. Their work behind the scenes has resulted in significant progress on several new product developments and next-generation solutions. Their creativity and technical depth continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in our industry.

Looking forward, the second half of the year promises to be even more exciting. We are actively preparing for major projects that will take us to new geographies and new partnerships, further expanding our global reach. A significant milestone has already been achieved with the successful acquisition of a new project in Spain, and we are currently in promising discussions across multiple other countries. The momentum is building.

Moreover, we are preparing some major announcements for this summer to fuel our growth. These upcoming updates will reflect not only our technical progress but also our broader vision for the future. We cannot wait to share what is next.

Stay with us as we continue to grow, innovate and deliver impactful solutions to complex industrial challenges. We are just getting started.

Busy First Half – And an even Bigger Future Ahead yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

AIS Field Featured in Platin Magazine May 2025 Edition yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

During the panel titled “Showcasing a Corporate- Startup Success Story”, moderated by Funda Çetin, Director of Innovation and Venture Capital at Tüpraş, valuable insights were shared by Levent Zağra, Deputy General Manager of Tüpraş, and Görkem Bayten, CEO of Aisfield, a Tüpraş Ventures portfolio company. We discussed our collaboration journey and key takeaways from the collaboration and investment process.

As our CEO Görkem Bayten shared, our journey began in the TÜPRAŞ fields, and we continue to grow with their invaluable support. TÜPRAŞ has played a pivotal role in our story not only as a client, but also as an investor and mentor. Their continued trust and guidance remain essential to our progress.

Showcasing a Corporate-Startup Success Story yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.

The week began in Houston, where we visited Chevron Robotics Labs at The Cannon to discuss potential areas of cooperation and explore the latest advancements in inspection and maintenance robotics. This visit provided valuable insights into the rapidly evolving robotics ecosystem in the United States and opened the door for promising future partnerships.

Following our meetings in Houston, we traveled to Austin, Texas to participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit, a major event that connects innovative international companies with U.S. economic development organizations and local representatives. During the event, we had the opportunity to meet with several city and county officials, learning more about the exciting business opportunities and incentives available in Williamson County and other Texas regions. Beyond meetings and discussions, our team also enjoyed a helicopter tour of the area and visited the Texas State Capitol, where we experienced the rich history and dynamic business environment of the state. We also visited the Asian Chamber of Commerce, connecting with inspiring entrepreneurs and enjoying the warmth of true Texan hospitality, culture and food.

This visit marks an important step in AIS Field’s U.S. expansion journey. We are enthusiastic about the potential collaborations and new relationships that will emerge from this trip.

We would like to extend our appreciation to all our hosts and partners for their generosity and support throughout our stay. We look forward to returning to Texas

A Week in Houston, Texas yazısı ilk önce AIS Field üzerinde ortaya çıktı.