The　robots　have　been　used　in　the　inspection　of　industrial　wireless　sensor　networks　(IWSNs),　that　includes　data　collection　and　wireless　charging.　The　sensor　nodes　are　always　densely　deployed　and　their　appearances　are　similar,　thus　it　is　a　non-trivial　challenge　to　identify　a　specific　node　by　the　machine　vision.　To　solve　this　problem,　we　propose　to　use　the　proximity　estimation　algorithm,　which　uses　wireless　signals　to　estimate　neighbor　nodes,　to　help　the　robot　to　identify　a　specific　node　in　the　network.　The　algorithm　is　deployed　a　patrol　inspection　testbed　with　a　mobile　robot　and　multiple　sensor　nodes,　and　the　experiments　are　executed　to　verify　its　performance.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　proximity　estimation　algorithm　is　a　reasonable　solution　to　identify　similar　nodes　in　the　inspection　of　the　IWSN.　©　2022,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.