AIS Field’s RUVI OilDiver, a robotic solution for the in-service inspection of above-ground storage tanks containing petrochemical products, has been featured in the September 2024 edition of Forbes Türkiye. The system is drawing significant attention for its ability to eliminate conventional out-of-service maintenance; reducing emissions, preventing environmental waste and providing economic and health and safety advantages by eliminating confined space entry.

Below is an English summary of the article published in Forbes Türkiye, highlighting how AIS Field’s innovation is transforming industrial tank maintenance.

“AIS Field’s RUVI OilDiver robotic system, developed for heavy industry, cuts tank maintenance costs worth millions of dollars while minimizing carbon emissions and environmental waste. A remarkable performance for a start-up…

The World Economic Forum reports that over 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from heavy industry. To reach net zero, these industries must undergo a deep transformation, especially in energy efficiency and green technology applications. One Turkish start-up taking this challenge head-on is AIS Field, with its product RUVI OilDiver. A robot that reduces the carbon footprint, chemical waste and safety risks associated with tank cleaning and maintenance.

From an economic standpoint, the scale of the problem is massive. Storage tanks must be emptied every ten years for maintenance, during which they are cleaned, inspected, repainted and repaired before being recommissioned. This process can take up to three months and costs millions in downtime and maintenance expenses. The larger the tank, the higher the loss, sometimes reaching up to 2.5 million dollars per tank.

AIS Field’s RUVI OilDiver offers a game-changing alternative: it can inspect tanks without draining them, significantly reducing both downtime and cost. With over 50.000 storage tanks worldwide, the market potential is immense.

Founded in 2022 by Görkem Bayten, Özgen Bulut, Kayhan Gündoğdu and John Duncan Stephenson, AIS Field is the first company in Turkey to develop such advanced robotic inspection technology. The company was established with TÜBİTAK’s BIGG Entrepreneurship Grant, and its RUVI OilDiver robot was developed under TÜBİTAK’s 1707 Order-Based R&D Program in partnership with TÜPRAŞ. Co-founder Kayıhan Gündoğdu explains:

“Non-destructive robotic inspection is already attracting serious investment in the US and EU. As the only company from our region competing internationally, we believe our technology gives us a strong competitive edge.”

The RUVI OilDiver system uses 32 ultrasonic probes to map corrosion across the tank floor while the robot moves continuously inside the tank. It detects defects in real-time and generates a digital corrosion map, ensuring both precision and safety. The system also employs encoders, IMUs, and 360-degree sonar for navigation. Operators control the robot remotely from a control room using AI-assisted visualization and analysis tools.

AIS Field’s partnership with TÜPRAŞ began with 13 large tank inspections and later expanded to other robotic systems. In 2024, the company launched RUVI WallKer, a magnetic crawler robot designed for boiler and heat exchanger inspections.

Today, AIS Field operates from its R&D lab and workshop in ODTÜ Teknokent’s OSTİM campus in Ankara, employing 15 engineers who continue pushing the boundaries of robotic non-destructive testing.”