Now, the Sellafield nuclear power plant has started a breakthrough pilot project. They are deploying a four-legged robot dog, Spot, to monitor radiation levels in dangerous surroundings. This initiative is a big step toward improving safety and efficiency in decommissioning operations at the facility. The trial uses a unique, new tool called RAICo. Heretoforescope This new attachment is placed on the robot to mimic the swabbing technique that human operators road-tested would normally conduct.
Over the past several years, Sellafield has been investigating robotic technologies that could reduce the need for human-operated radiation monitoring. To protect the public and workers in surrounding areas, the plant’s health physics team ascertains hundreds of surface swabs each day to gather vital data. This data drives decommissioning strategies and ensures that highest safety standards continue to be upheld. Spot has a powerful, extendable arm that features swabbing tool attachments. This design is intended to increase the speed and accuracy of operations.
When the plant’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipment was Deon Bulman’s responsibility. He was very optimistic about this new robot’s capabilities. He said, “Those capabilities enable faster, safer and more cost-effective decommissioning operations.” Spot’s flexibility and reflexes allow it to cover hazardous environments that would put human employees at risk. This ability reduces risk and increases productivity.
The RAICo tool delivers haptic feedback throughout the swabbing process, giving operators increased control and precision. This improvement makes the robot far more effective at gathering accurate and usable radiation data, a critical component of any long-term monitoring and assessment efforts.
This trial follows on the success of an equivalent technology test at the Joint European Torus facility. That test occurred last year at Culham, Oxfordshire. According to Bulman, this advancement is just one piece of a larger, positive trend in the industry. We are really driving the adoption of advanced robotics in the nuclear space,” he said.
The ongoing robotics trial at Sellafield demonstrates the invaluable role that robotics can play in safety practices in high-risk environments. We know that technology is changing at an incredibly fast pace. As a first step toward safe decommissioning practices across the nuclear industry, it will play an essential role.
