The Sellafield nuclear power plant, for example, recently announced an interesting trial. They’re deploying a new four-legged robot named Spot, which is being equipped with a novel swabbing tool like RAICo. This test is being conducted to see how well robotic technology could help monitor radiation levels. This endeavor is important for sustainable, safe nuclear environments. Hosted by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, the trial represents another major advancement towards the use of cutting-edge robotics in the industry.
The RAICo tool is specifically customized to connect to Spot. This allows the autonomous robot to replicate the swabbing maneuvers that a skilled human operator would normally execute. This step forward has proven incredibly beneficial to Sellafield’s health physics team. As shown below, they perform hundreds of radiation surface swabs each day run by a network of local hospitals. By using RAICo, Sellafield intends to make these operations safer and more efficient.
Spot, known for the impressive agility and responsiveness of its powerful strong extendable arm with attached yellow swab tool, puts on quite a show. Deon Bulman, who manages Sellafield’s remotely operated vehicle fleet, explained further why these features were needed. For one, he said, Spot can work safely in places where it’s too risky for humans to work.
“Those capabilities support faster, safer, and more cost-effective decommissioning operations.” – Deon Bulman
This trial follows a highly successful test carried out at the Joint European Torus facility in Culham, Oxfordshire. RAICo had already been tested in that environment. Dr. Kirsty Hewitson, the director of RAICo, underlined the significance of these developments. They have helped the nuclear sector make tremendous strides with robotics.
By integrating advanced robotic systems, such as Spot, into radiation monitoring processes, we can make these efforts safer. At the same time, it opens up incredible opportunities for more accurate, precise operation. Bulman emphasized the positive impact of the robot’s ‘haptic feedback’ while performing swabs. This feature increases user control and precision, which greatly increases the reliability of results obtained through surface swabs.
As Sellafield pushes the boundaries of robotic technology, their impact on the nuclear industry is significant. This trial is a magnificent step, as it daringly combines the robotics and human expertise altogether. Together, they hope to define new expectations for safety and efficiency.