Sellafield Nuclear Power Plant in Cumbria recently performed its first trial run of a four-legged robot. Harsh Design’s Sweet Pea This groundbreaking robot is made to carefully monitor radiation levels in dangerous areas. This cutting edge technology has the potential to make construction work zones safer by removing human workers. Most importantly, it operates in environments where exposure to radioactive materials is a danger. It comes after a similarly successful test—not on undiluted fuel—was held last year at the Joint European Torus facility in Culham, Oxfordshire.
This is another picture of our Sellafield health physics team swabbing hundreds of surfaces every day. This three-step routine maximizes safety from unnecessary radiation exposure. The mobile genome robot matched with its enormous arm and yellow-testing corral. Today, they are able to conduct operations far more quickly and safely than ever before. The robot’s design enables it to reproduce the repetitive swabbing movements that human workers make. This advancement greatly simplifies the monitoring process.
Deon Bulman, remotely operated vehicle equipment lead at Sellafield, said he was excited by what the robot could do. He noted that its speed and maneuverability allow it to traverse places that are too dangerous for a human to go. This feature provides an important safety benefit while performing radiation monitoring 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
A trial is now in progress at Sellafield. This program aims to leverage this same power of robotic technology in the nuclear enterprise. Dr. Kirsty Hewitson, director of RAICo, emphasized the significance of the trial, stating that such innovations “could have an impact on both nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering sites.”
The robot seamlessly provides detailed, specific diagnostic feedback. This allows for precision operation when using the machine and appropriate tracking of radiation exposure. With safety and efficiency challenges, the nuclear industry has been in need of innovation and change. Innovations such as these offer a rare bright spot.