i.safe MOBILE revolutionizes industrial automation with the pioneering Mobile Operator Panel
12.03.2026
i.safe MOBILE is redefining industrial automation in hazardous environments with the launch of its new Mobile Operator Panel, a breakthrough that shifts decision-making from centralized control rooms directly into the hands of field workers. For the first time, operators receive context-aware insights in real time, enabling them to make safety-critical decisions based on actual on-site conditions rather than static processes.
For decades, workers in hazardous areas have been bound to rigid approval chains and delayed workflows, often waiting for distant control-room authorization. The new system reverses this model by combining human expertise with autonomous AI processing directly in the field. The result: decisions become faster, safer, and more efficient.
Beyond Traditional Human-Machine Interfaces
Unlike traditional HMIs that merely display information, the Mobile Operator Panel actively interprets the operator’s location, permissions, nearby equipment, and current plant conditions. It dynamically adjusts workflows and offers structured decision support. This marks a shift from Industry 4.0 connectivity toward collaborative Industry X.0, where machines and systems understand their operational context and assist human decision-making without attempting to replace it.
"For too long, industrial automation has forced field teams to adapt to rigid systems designed for control rooms. The Mobile Operator Panel inverts this logic entirely. We deliver intelligence directly to the field. Operators gain situational awareness and structured decision support at the moment they need it most, not minutes or hours later. This is human expertise amplified by smart automation, and it changes everything about how work is done in Ex-zones" explains Martin Haaf, CEO at i.safe MOBILE.
Purpose-built for hazardous environments
The Mobile Operator Panel is fully ATEX and IECEx certified for Zones 1/21 and 2/22 and consists of:
- IS940.x Android tablet or IS945.x Windows tablet, both with intrinsically safe, on-device AI computing.
- IS-CS1A.1 Connectivity System, enabling secure power, synchronization, and system integration without risking certification.
To ensure uninterrupted safety in areas where network access is unreliable, the system uses edge AI processing, powered by QNN, ONNX Runtime, and TensorFlow Lite. This guarantees local, resilient decision-making independent of cloud connectivity while preserving data sovereignty.
Operations transformed through measurable intelligence
The Mobile Operator Panel processes sensor data, video, and system information to provide real-time recommendations that adapt to changing conditions. This eliminates operational delays and turns static procedures into flexible workflows. Predictive functions detect anomalies and equipment issues before they escalate, shifting safety management from reactive to preventive action.
Through standardized interfaces (RDP, VNC, OPC UA, MQTT, HTTPS, JSON, XML), the system connects legacy control systems, business platforms, and AI overlays into a unified screen—without replacing existing infrastructure.
Additionally, Human-in-the-Loop Governance ensures humans always retain the final decision, with every automated step being traceable and explainable.
Field-proven applications across critical operations
The system significantly improves:
- Maintenance and inspections through guided, real-time, context-sensitive procedures.
- SIMOPS (Simultaneous Operations) via automatic hazard detection and instant team coordination.
- Permit-to-Work processes, accelerating approvals and enforcing dynamic safety checks.
- Shift handovers, with secure digital documentation and AI-supported clarity.
“This shift from centralized control to context-aware orchestration is a fundamental redesign of industrial workflows,” says Jan Rieks Zonderman, Product Manager Automation at i.safe MOBILE. “The key question is no longer whether to automate, but where the intelligence should reside and how it complements human expertise.”
"We witness the emergence of Contextual Process Automation as a new category in industrial technology. This convergence of intrinsically safe hardware, sovereign AI processing, and human-centric design creates interfaces that respond dynamically to field realities. For industries that operate in Ex-zones, this shift from centralised control to contextual orchestration fundamentally reimagines how work happens. The question is no longer whether to automate. The question now is where intelligence is located and how it serves human expertise" notes Jan Rieks Zonderman, Product Manager Automation at i.safe MOBILE.