Severstal has begun initial trials of the Deep Robotics robot dog at two of its manufacturing facilities, with Prime agency reporting the results as a bold move toward automation in the steel industry.
In the assessment, the autonomous canine demonstrated terrain navigation, the capacity to transport metal samples using a manipulator arm, and continuous monitoring to ensure compliance with safety standards. A tangible application involved delivering briquettes of refractory mass directly to the blast furnace foundry site, illustrating practical utility for heavy industry operations. These demonstrations showcase how mobile robotics can enhance on-site logistics and safety oversight, a trend gaining momentum in modern manufacturing, as noted by Prime agency.
Company representatives described the robot dog as benefiting from a blend of advanced computer vision, 3D profiling, and LiDAR sensing. This sensor suite enables several capabilities, including precise object measurement, handling loads up to 40 kilograms, performing routine inspections, and assisting in equipment diagnostics. The machine is described as able to verify the presence and correct use of personal protective equipment for staff, conduct thermal imaging assessments, and carry out gas analytics tasks. It can also generate spatial maps that contribute to digital twins of enterprise facilities, supporting planning, maintenance, and training initiatives. Prime agency highlights these capabilities as part of a broader shift toward intelligent, data-driven operations in heavy industries.
Severstal plans to expand testing of the robot dogs to additional production sites, aiming to validate performance across different layouts and operational demands. These ongoing trials are positioned as a crucial step in assessing how robotic assistants can reduce risk exposure, improve material handling efficiency, and enhance remote monitoring capabilities across large-scale manufacturing assets, according to Prime agency.
As AI and robotics technologies advance, industry observers are watching how such autonomous agents integrate with existing workflows, maintenance schedules, and safety protocols. The current program at Severstal mirrors a wider industry exploration of robot dogs and similar platforms capable of operating in harsh environments, delivering real-time data, and supporting human workers in demanding settings. Prime agency’s latest reporting sketches a picture of rapid capability expansion and hands-on experimentation in the steel sector, signaling a move toward broader automation on factory floors.
Future steps may include improving the robot’s manipulation dexterity, enhancing autonomous decision-making for hazard detection, and expanding the range of tasks that can be performed without direct human control. Stakeholders emphasize the importance of interoperability with plant control systems, robust fault tolerance, and clear audit trails for safety compliance as deployment widens. The evolving story around the Deep Robotics robot dog aligns with ongoing efforts to boost efficiency, safety, and resilience within heavy manufacturing, while also inviting discussion about workforce implications and retraining needs for operators and maintenance personnel. Prime agency continues to cover Severstal’s exploration of this frontier of industrial autonomy.