ANYmal C

Overview

The ANYbotics ANYmal C is the discontinued predecessor to the ANYmal D, built by ANYbotics in Zurich, Switzerland. It was the platform that established ANYbotics' commercial position in industrial inspection before the company replaced it with the ANYmal D in 2022. The ANYmal C was IP67-rated with 10 kg payload and 2 to 4 hours of runtime, depending on operating mode. ANYbotics no longer manufactures ANYmal C, and the platform has been formally discontinued. Deployed units remain in service at customer sites under existing maintenance agreements, but new deployments should use the ANYmal D.

ANYbotics was founded as an ETH Zurich spin-out and the ANYmal C was instrumental in demonstrating that legged inspection robots could operate reliably in industrial environments, achieving commercial deployments across oil and gas, power generation, and chemical sectors.

Key Specifications

• Degrees of freedom: 12
• Payload: 10 kg
• Weight: 35 kg
• Battery runtime: 2 to 4 hours depending on gait and terrain
• IP rating: IP67
• Software: ANYmal Perception and ANYmal Navigation (legacy firmware versions)

Software updates for ANYmal C are no longer guaranteed beyond maintenance releases for currently deployed units. The migration path to ANYmal D is the recommended course for existing ANYmal C operators.

Use Cases

ANYmal C was deployed at oil and gas facilities, power stations, and chemical plants for autonomous inspection, gauge reading, and anomaly detection. Several units remain operational at European energy infrastructure sites. The transition from ANYmal C to ANYmal D is ongoing, with many operators upgrading rather than maintaining the older platform. ANYbotics offers trade-in and upgrade programmes for existing customers.

Buying Used

ANYmal C units are rarely available for open market purchase. When they appear, expect to pay £35,000 to £55,000 depending on condition and sensor payload configuration. The critical consideration before purchasing a used ANYmal C is software support: confirm with ANYbotics whether the unit's firmware version remains compatible with their cloud management and inspection software platform. Units without cloud connectivity have significantly reduced autonomous inspection capability, as route planning and anomaly reporting rely on cloud-side processing in ANYbotics' architecture.

Alternatives to Consider

• ANYbotics ANYmal D: The direct replacement with active software support, ATEX certification option, and hot-swap battery capability.
• Boston Dynamics Spot: Broader third-party software ecosystem with an active UK reseller and support network.
• Unitree B2: Lower-cost industrial alternative for non-ATEX applications, at $35,000.