IFS and Boston Dynamics Collaboration Combines the Power of Robotics with Agentic AI to Transform Field Operations

Industrial X Unleashed

IFS, the leading provider of Industrial AI software, and Boston Dynamics, the global leader in mobile robotics, today announced a ground-breaking collaboration to revolutionize how asset-intensive organizations manage and optimize their field operations. Uniting Boston Dynamics' autonomous inspection robots with the power of IFS.ai creates a fully agentic AI system that seamlessly connects sensing, predictive decision-making and action in the field. With labor and skills shortages impacting industrial customers, leading to service gaps and prolonged outages, there exists an urgent need for technology that can supplement field workers.


IFS and Boston Dynamics revealed the joint solution for the first time at Industrial X Unleashed in New York, November 13. The two companies showcased a powerful combination of physical AI and agentic AI that creates an end-to-end autonomous system to connect robots and enterprise data in high potential applications. Boston Dynamics' Spot robots inspect industrial assets and sites, capturing critical operational data in real-time. Spot uses thermal cameras to detect overheating, can listen to air or gas leaks, read analog gauges for pressure and flow, check indicator lights, identify hazards like spills, or detect voltage anomalies. This information feeds directly into IFS.ai where agentic AI analyzes the data, makes intelligent decisions, and triggers appropriate actions - creating a seamless loop from sensing to execution.

The collaboration uniquely focuses on serving industries where field operations are critical, including manufacturing, energy, utilities, mining, and other asset-intensive sectors. With field workers comprising part of the 70% of the world's workforce that do not work behind a desk, IFS and Boston Dynamics are unlocking value in areas that have remained underserved by generic AI applications.

Together, IFS and Boston Dynamics are targeting measurable improvements across three critical operational metrics:

Safety: Autonomous inspections reduce human exposure to hazardous environments while increasing inspection frequency and thoroughness
Efficiency: Intelligent automation enables faster decision-making and response times, optimizing resource allocation
Uptime: Predictive insights and automated actions help prevent failures before they occur, maximizing asset availability
Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer, IFS, said: "Asset-intensive organizations face unrelenting pressure to improve operational performance. Together with Boston Dynamics, we're delivering a truly autonomous system that connects the physical and digital worlds for the first time. IFS.ai and IFS Loops turn robot observations into enterprise action, from preventative maintenance scheduling to predictive failure analysis and automated anomaly detection. Data flows from the field into enterprise systems, decisions are made autonomously, and actions are executed back in the field, all within a single integrated platform."

Dr. Merry Frayne, Director of Product, Boston Dynamics, commented: "This collaboration represents the future of industrial operations. Our robots excel at navigating complex environments and gathering critical data. Combined with IFS's agentic decision-making capabilities, we're enabling organizations to achieve levels of operational excellence and safety that simply weren't possible before."

Ron Utterbeck, CIO, Eversource, an IFS customer, said: "As the largest New England energy provider managing critical infrastructure across multiple states, this integration has the potential to radically transform our operations. As our grid continues to advance we need to utilize not only traditional data gathering but more advanced data gathering and modeling. To meet the reliability and the energy demands for our customers, we look forward to the opportunity in utilizing advanced industry technology such to enable data collection at a different level that can support routine inspections of substations and facilities with automatically prioritizing and dispatching our crews. This will allow our highly-skilled crews to be focused on the right priorities at the right time and ensure mission-critical work is completed. It's a genuine shift from reactive to predictive maintenance."

For more information about Industrial X Unleashed, visit www.industrialX.ai.

Featured Product

Model TR1 Tru-Trac

Model TR1 Tru-Trac

The Model TR1 Tru-Trac® linear measurement solution is a versatile option for tracking velocity, position, or distance over a wide variety of surfaces. An integrated encoder, measuring wheel, and spring-loaded torsion arm in one, compact unit, the Model TR1 is easy to install. The spring-loaded torsion arm offers adjustable torsion load, allowing the Model TR1 to be mounted in almost any orientation - even upside-down. The threaded shaft on the pivot axis is field reversible, providing mounting access from either side. With operating speeds up to 3000 feet per minute, a wide variety of configuration options - including multiple wheel material options - and a housing made from a durable, conductive composite material that minimizes static buildup, the Model TR1 Tru-Trac® is the ideal solution for countless applications.