Sellafield, a nuclear facility located in Cumbria, has successfully completed its first trial of a four-legged robot designed to monitor radiation levels in hazardous areas. The remotely operated vehicle has an Explorer class large scale arm and yellow swabbing tool. Third, it duplicates the swabbing movement that human operators typically conduct. This new technology has the potential to greatly enhance safety and efficiency in environments where radiation exposure would be hazardous to staff.
Herhealth physics team at Sellafield do hundreds of surface swabs daily. They are able to do this because they have accounted for all safety engineering principles from the outset. To further enhance their monitoring capacity, the facility adopted an agile robot. This innovation protects people from having to go to hazardous spots. The robot’s ability to intelligently maneuver dangerous environments allows it to take on life-saving missions that are too dangerous for people.
The recent trial follows on a similar successful test from last year. That experimental test was held at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility in Culham, Oxfordshire. Learnings from that prior experience served as the foundation for the trial at Sellafield, addressing considerations around the robot’s performance and usability within complex environments. Deon Bulman, remotely operated vehicle equipment lead at Sellafield, said this technology represented the future of nuclear operations.
“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 robot’s design lends itself to fine control, allowing for controlled feedback through extended operation. The stability and mobility of its four articulated legs allow it to easily travel through environments with hazardous and uneven terrains typically seen at decommissioning sites. This level of precision is imperative in order to continue protecting the public and workers from radiation exposure while allowing for innovative, effective radiation monitoring.
As mentioned by Dr. Kirsty Hewitson, director of RAICo, one of the bigger impacts this technology would have goes beyond the construction industry. She stated that the robot “could have an impact on both nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering sites,” highlighting its potential for widespread application in the nuclear industry.
Sellafield is the first to actively dive into the capabilities of this four-legged automaton. This is a major advancement of using advanced robotics for radiation monitoring efforts. The learning from the outcome of this trial can catalyze new, exciting innovations. These innovations will enhance safety and increase operational productivity in the most dangerous working conditions.