robotic dogs can unleash a more reliable energy future

Trey Caylor hasn’t said whether he’s a cat or a dog person. But, at least on a professional level, it’s likely the latter, albeit with an important caveat.

The “canine” he’s fond of must perform the most important of tricks: helping increase the efficiency of Chevron’s oil and gas facilities.

As Chevron Technical Center’s robotics program manager, Caylor is working to prove the capabilities of a fleet of robotic pups are up to the task. He’s doing so through a strategic agreement with robot maker Boston Dynamics.

During plant walkabouts, the robots—each called Spot®—collect and analyze data to help workers make faster and better decisions.

The information relayed can hint at potential issues, giving teams a chance to address them before they cause a disruption.

With a camera for a head, Spot records its work in real time, while keeping a log of observations for future use.

It also can patrol the refinery, conduct equipment inspections and never chews up the furniture.

Chevron introduced Spot at its El Segundo Refinery in California in 2022.

Under its recently inked agreement with Spot’s manufacturer Boston Dynamics, it is expanding its use of the robots in California, Texas and Mississippi. By doing so, the companies hope to advance Spot’s capabilities and use cases.