Dognapping in the Decommissioning Process
• • • The world of nuclear decommissioning is not typically associated with cute and cuddly canine companions. However, a robotic dog, named Spot, has been making waves in the industry by showcasing its capabilities in hazardous areas.
Spot, a robot created by Boston Dynamics, has been working with the Dounreay decommissioning programme to carry out tasks that are beyond the reach of human workers. Its ability to climb stairs, avoid obstacles and move over rough ground makes it an ideal candidate for hazardous areas.
A Task Beyond Human Reach
The recent task undertaken by Spot was to assist staff in the Fuel Cycle Area of the Dounreay site. The task involved reactivating a crucial building crane in a reprocessing plant. The crane had been deactivated at the switchboard in 2023 due to safety restrictions, which prohibited human interaction with the switchboard. This further delayed the reactivation of the crane, which was essential for waste shipment and ongoing decommissioning efforts.
| Task | Requirement | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Reactivating the crane | Waste shipment and decommissioning efforts | High risk to human workers |
The team at Dounreay decided to use Spot for the task after consulting with the innovation team and seeking assistance from the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo). RAICo, a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield, and the University of Manchester, specialises in solving shared challenges in nuclear decommissioning and fusion energy by accelerating the use of robotics and AI.
A Collaborative Effort
The team at RAICo brought their Spot to the Dounreay site and collaborated with the Dounreay team to work out the best approach for reactivating the crane. After a week of trials on a non-live switch mock-up in a nearby substation storeroom, the team confirmed that Spot could push the switch into the “on” position.
“Thanks to outstanding teamwork between the decommissioning team, RAICo, our colleagues in works control and the electrical team, we have achieved an excellent outcome. We can now proceed with modernising the crane to bring it back into full service.”
— Senior facility manager Suzy Nellies
Senior facility manager Suzy Nellies praised the team’s achievement, saying: “This is a fantastic example of collaboration through RAICo leading to acceleration of deployment of robotic technology to unlock a real-world challenge in an efficient and safe way.”
A New Standard in Robotics
The Dounreay programme has seen Spot visit schools and nurseries across the far north. The robot’s unique abilities have made it a popular choice for educational purposes, allowing children to learn about robotics and AI in a fun and interactive way. Spot is a groundbreaking example of how robotics can be used to accelerate nuclear decommissioning, making it a safer and more efficient process for everyone involved.
As Kate Canning, the NDA’s head of research and development, said: “This is a fantastic example of collaboration through RAICo leading to acceleration of deployment of robotic technology to unlock a real-world challenge in an efficient and safe way. It’s supporting us to keep our people out of harm while developing them, transferring specialist knowledge and skills across our group.”
A Bright Future for Robotics in Nuclear Decommissioning
The use of Spot and other robotics solutions is expected to become more widespread in the nuclear industry, as the benefits of automation and AI become increasingly apparent.
The collaboration between RAICo and the Dounreay programme is a significant step forward in the development of robotics in nuclear decommissioning. It demonstrates the potential for robots like Spot to unlock real-world challenges and accelerate the process of decommissioning sites.
In the future, we can expect to see more robots like Spot being used to tackle complex tasks in the nuclear industry. As the field continues to evolve, the use of robotics and AI will become more widespread, leading to a safer and more efficient process for decommissioning sites.
Conclusion
The use of Spot and other robotics solutions has revolutionised the way nuclear decommissioning is carried out. The collaboration between RAICo and the Dounreay programme has shown the potential for robots like Spot to unlock real-world challenges and accelerate the process of decommissioning sites. As the field continues to evolve, we can expect to see more robots like Spot being used to tackle complex tasks in the nuclear industry.
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