A novel trial is in progress at the Sellafield nuclear power plant. Our story about a technically advanced four-legged robot that consultants are testing to measure radiation levels. The innovative tool, RAICo, easily connects to the robot Spot as shown above. It replicates the zig-zagging motion of swabbing that human operators use to clear contaminants. This pilot program is designed to improve both safety and efficiency in dangerous conditions.
Sellafield’s health physics team carries out hundreds of surface swabs each day to ensure radiation doesn’t escape into the environment. Some parts of the plant are considered no-go zones for human employees. With the recent introduction of Spot, fitted with RAICo, there is a safer alternative. The robot’s speed and maneuverability allow it to move quickly through these dangerous areas.
Dr. Kirsty Hewitson is the project director of RAICo. This plan follows a successful demonstration of the technology at last year’s Joint European Torus facility in Culham, Oxfordshire. The current trial taking place at Sellafield aims to accelerate the use of advanced robotics across the nuclear industry.
The RAICo attachment includes a long, extendable arm to help the operator make careful, deliberate swabbing motions with the yellow swabbing tool it grips. The special ‘haptic feedback’ system gives users more control as they push the button, preventing false results when detecting high radiation levels.
Deon Bulman, who manages Sellafield’s remotely operated vehicle equipment, stated that the robot’s capabilities significantly enhance decommissioning operations.
“Those capabilities support faster, safer, and more cost-effective decommissioning operations.” – Deon Bulman
This trial is an important milestone for the acceptance and widespread adoption of advanced robotic technologies into nuclear safety standards and best practices. By deploying Spot in the real-world environment, the team at Sellafield is currently evaluating how well Spot and RAICo perform under operational settings. Their aim is to improve how robotics are used to operate in threatening environments.