KAUST And Saudi Aramco Partner To Advance Hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Crawler Technology For Industrial Use

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Saudi Aramco have entered into an agreement to license the Hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Crawler Technology (HUCT). This technology combines aerial and ground robotic functions to aid in inspection, monitoring, and advanced industrial tasks. The collaboration aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to accelerate research translation into practical applications.

The HUCT was developed by researchers from KAUST and Aramco, including former KAUST alumni now employed at Aramco. This partnership highlights the innovative capabilities of both parties and underscores the growing impact of KAUST’s alumni in the Kingdom's industrial research landscape. The agreement allows Aramco to further develop and apply HUCT within its operations.

Ali A. Al Meshari, Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight and Coordination at Aramco, stated: "This partnership embodies our strategic commitment to harnessing academic expertise and scientific excellence to drive technological innovation. The HUCT is a groundbreaking example of this collaboration, enabling the detection and maintenance of asset integrity and reliability in our core business. By leveraging robotics and sensing solutions, we can now inspect elevated facilities in a safer, more efficient manner, reducing risks and improving our overall energy efficiency and HSE standards. This partnership not only fosters the growth of such inventions for specific industrial applications but also underscores our shared vision for a safer, more sustainable future."

Dr. Ian Campbell, Senior Vice President of the KAUST National Transformation Institute (NTI), remarked: "This agreement reflects KAUST’s commitment to delivering solutions that have meaningful national impact and demonstrates the success of our model in driving innovation to market. It is also a great example of the talent pipeline we are cultivating—KAUST alumni are shaping the future of innovation from within major global organizations like Aramco."

KAUST is actively bridging scientific discovery with commercialization through its work at NTI, focusing on sectors like robotics, AI, and sustainability. This effort directly enhances Saudi Arabia’s Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) ecosystem. Robotics is a key research area supporting Saudi Arabia’s priority of developing "Economies of the Future."

This agreement forms part of both parties’ strategy to bolster technology and innovation by strengthening academic partnerships within the Kingdom. It aims to scale up impactful technologies while supporting Saudi Arabia’s shift towards a knowledge-based economy.

The collaboration between KAUST and Aramco not only showcases their dedication to technological advancement but also highlights their role in fostering a sustainable future through innovative solutions.

With inputs from SPA