IFS + Boston Dynamics: Agentic AI Meets Mobile Robots for Field Operations
Industrial X Unleashed, New York, November 13, 2025: IFS and Boston Dynamics announced a joint system that connects autonomous inspection robots with agentic AI to streamline how asset-heavy organizations run field operations.
The setup links sensing, analysis, and execution in one loop. Robots capture real-time data; IFS.ai interprets it and triggers actions, all back into the field without manual handoffs.
How it works
Boston Dynamics' Spot robots run routine inspections across sites and assets. They detect overheating with thermal cameras, listen for leaks, read analog gauges, check indicator lights, flag spills, and spot voltage anomalies.
The data flows into IFS.ai where agentic AI evaluates what's happening, decides next steps, and initiates work-preventative maintenance, anomaly investigations, or dispatch. IFS Loops connects these observations to enterprise workflows so updates, work orders, and alerts are handled end-to-end.
What operations leaders can expect
- Safety: Reduce exposure to hazardous areas while increasing inspection frequency and consistency.
- Efficiency: Shorter decision cycles and faster responses, with better resource allocation.
- Uptime: Predictive insights and automated actions that prevent failures and keep assets available.
Why this matters
Labor and skills shortages are stretching crews thin and creating service gaps. This system fills those gaps with automated inspections and agent-led decisions that keep work moving.
Leaders weigh in
Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer at IFS: Asset-intensive organizations face relentless pressure to improve performance. With Boston Dynamics, IFS.ai and IFS Loops connect physical observations to enterprise action in a single platform-preventative scheduling, predictive failure analysis, and automated anomaly detection included.
Dr. Merry Frayne, Director of Product at Boston Dynamics: Our robots handle complex sites and gather critical data. Paired with IFS's agentic decision-making, organizations can reach higher standards of safety and operational excellence than before.
Ron Utterbeck, CIO at Eversource: Managing critical infrastructure across multiple states demands smarter data collection and modeling. This integration supports routine substation and facility inspections, automatically prioritizes and dispatches crews, and shifts work from reactive fixes to predictive maintenance.
Pilot plan (90 days)
- Pick one high-value site and two use cases (e.g., thermal anomalies and gas leak detection).
- Map robot outputs to enterprise data (asset IDs, locations, work types) in IFS.ai.
- Set clear thresholds and playbooks: auto-create work orders, escalate safety alerts, notify on-call teams.
- Define KPIs: mean time to detect/respond, inspection completion rate, downtime avoided.
- Integrate with EAM/CMMS and scheduling; align dispatch rules with union and safety policies.
- Run operator briefings and drills; document SOPs for false positives and edge cases.
- Review weekly, adjust thresholds, and expand routes after stability.
High-impact use cases
- Substations: thermal anomalies on transformers, gauge readings, indicator checks.
- Steam plants: leak detection, vibration hotspots, pressure deviations.
- Tank farms: spill detection, level checks, perimeter safety routes.
- Conveyors and drives: belt alignment, motor temperature, guarding compliance.
- Remote sites: routine patrols where access is limited or conditions vary.
What to have ready
- Accurate asset registry and location mapping.
- Network coverage for robot data and edge compute where needed.
- Clear maintenance playbooks and escalation paths.
- Safety SOPs, permits, and stakeholder alignment (operations, IT, OT, security).
- API access to EAM/CMMS and incident tools.
Measuring ROI
- Mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR).
- Unplanned downtime vs. baseline.
- Inspection completion rate and cost per inspection.
- Near-miss reduction and crew utilization.
- Backlog reduction for preventative work orders.
Learn more
Event details: Industrial X Unleashed
IFS solutions overview: IFS
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