In a major breakthrough for legacy nuclear waste management, cutting-edge robots are being put through their paces at Oldbury in South Gloucestershire. The pioneering trials aim to tackle some of the most complex and hazardous aspects of decommissioning by reducing human interaction with toxic materials and boosting efficiency.
Two separate but complementary projects are underway: RAICo's teleoperated robotic arms, designed to handle fuel element debris (FED), which requires careful retrieval and sorting due to its hazardous nature. Traditionally, this task involves personnel working in demanding environments wearing extensive protective gear and using manual tools. The robotic arms offer operators greater control from a safer distance, minimising direct human handling.
Auto-SAS, an autonomous sorting and segregation system, is the second project, led by NRS with £9.5 million funding over four years from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). It aims to identify, categorise, and sort complex mixed radioactive waste autonomously – a significant challenge in manual handling. This technology combines robotics with advanced sensing and characterisation capabilities and is being developed by ARCTEC.
Phoebe Lynch, Head of Innovation at NRS, stresses the organisation's commitment to leveraging technology. She notes that these projects not only add value to operations but also have scalability potential, with Auto-SAS having broader applications in industries facing complex waste sorting challenges.
The trials' primary goal is strategic: removing people from harm, reducing operational costs, and building future capabilities within the nuclear sector. Varun Kumar, a Robotics Engineer at RAICo, highlights the significance of robotic arms for decommissioning, addressing precision control and risk management to enable operators to perform skilled tasks safely.