Sellafield Nuclear Power Plant is leading the world in developing advanced robotics to improve safety and efficiency by monitoring radiation levels remotely. For inspections, the facility has recently begun trials using Spot, a doglike four-legged robot. With a customized swabbing tool, Spot will allow radiation detection in dangerous places. The focus of this initiative is to improve and standardize the practices of the health physics team. They are able to do hundreds of surface swabs each day.
Spot, created by Boston Dynamics, comes equipped with a long, extendable arm that grips a large, yellow swabbing apparatus, branded with the name RAICo. The tool enables accurate sampling of surfaces that may be contaminated by radioactive-specific material. This trial comes on the heels of a successful test at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility in Culham, Oxfordshire. Test 2 was a demonstration of the robot’s dexterous capabilities in delicate environments.
The health physics crew at Sellafield is ultimately entrusted with keeping the facility safe, constantly surveilling radiation levels to guarantee staff and public safety. Now, with Spot in the field, the team’s expectation is to be more efficient and accurate than ever. Deon Bulman, engineering manager for Sellafield’s remotely operated vehicle equipment, spoke to the innovative benefits of using this type of technology.
“Those capabilities support faster, safer, and more cost-effective decommissioning operations.” – Deon Bulman
Spot’s flexibility and speed allow it to reach locations that are too hazardous for human laborers. The robot’s ‘haptic feedback’ during swabbing improves control, precision and safety as it maneuvers. This creative approach embodies a growing trend to apply advanced robotics to the nuclear domain.
Dr. Kirsty Hewitson, director of RAICo, shared her positive outlook on the development of radiation monitoring through robotics. These ongoing trials at Sellafield exhibit the importance of adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance safety measures within nuclear facilities.
