A major milestone has been reached by the Sellafield nuclear power plant in Cumbria. Most recently, it completed the first successful trials of a new four-legged robot designed to patrol radiation levels in dangerous environments. This groundbreaking trial involved the robot swabbing surfaces in areas containing radioactive material, a task traditionally performed by human technicians.
The Sellafield Health Physics team performs hundreds of swabs each day to ensure safety standards are consistently met. This is a big milestone for them in terms of operational capacity and capability with this new robotic solution. The robot features an unusually thick, wide, and heavy-duty front arm. It uses a yellow vacuumbreaker swabbing tool that mimics human movements, allowing it to carry out complicated procedures quickly and precisely.
This new trial follows a successful test on the same robot at the Joint European Torus facility in Culham, Oxfordshire. That facility has a goal of demonstrating general fusion technology. The robot removes debris quickly, clearing rubble from domains that are too hazardous for human laborers. This agility immensely increases security and safety during radioactive monitoring activities. Deon Bulman, head of remotely operated vehicle equipment team at Sellafield, said this was a momentous advance.
“Together, these capabilities support faster, safer, and more cost-effective decommissioning operations while pushing forward the adoption of advanced robotics in the nuclear sector.” – Deon Bulman
The pilot was purposely designed to test the robot’s abilities within swabbing missions in dangerous environments. Yet it offered an important counterbalance, allowing for nuanced, careful control of the robot’s movements. This built-in capability makes monitoring easier. It just as importantly restates our dedication to ensuring high safety standards are maintained through decommissioning plans.
Dr. Kirsty Hewitson, director at RAICo, talked about the possibilities of this technology changing the landscape. She noted that the advancements demonstrated in the Sellafield trial “could have an impact on both nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering sites.” This view reveals the larger issues of robotic technology’s role in the nuclear industry.
Sellafield Ltd is currently looking at new, innovative approaches to radiation monitoring and decommissioning. This recent trial is a huge step in their direction. Robotics will play a major role in increasing safety and efficiency in our most hazardous working conditions. This integration is especially critical in contexts where human intervention is life threatening.