Periscopic camera system

Introduction

A pioneering camera and lens system developed by Ice Nine Ltd was successfully demonstrated to 16 key stakeholders from Sellafield Ltd at the RAICo1 innovation facility in Whitehaven. The ‘Periscopic’ system, a breakthrough in visual inspection for nuclear sites, is poised to revolutionise how confined and hazardous areas are inspected across the Sellafield site and potentially the wider Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) estate.

The technology was originally conceived to address the “Asset Inspection through 19mm Diameter Access Ports” challenge. The technology demonstrated at the end of the proof-of-concept (PoC) project is a slender device capable of delivering sharp, colour, high-resolution imagery from areas previously considered too difficult or dangerous to access.

Reimagining visual inspection in hazardous environments

Many inspection zones at Sellafield are highly radioactive and notoriously difficult to access, presenting challenges for traditional electronic systems, which degrade quickly under such conditions. Conventional tools like borescopes and endoscopes are designed primarily for pipework and close-range viewing, often producing grainy, black-and-white images with limited detail.

Ice Nine’s ‘Periscopic’ system is different.

By drawing on the age-old principles of periscope design and integrating modern optical engineering, the system uses a series of lenses and mirrors to look through small access ports and view large internal spaces. Crucially, the camera hardware is kept outside the radiologically harsh environment, preserving image clarity and extending the system’s lifespan.

“This is a game changer,” said one of the attending Sellafield stakeholders. “Not only does it give us eyes in places we’ve never been able to inspect before, but the image quality is a huge step change from anything we’ve previously used.”

Demonstration & industry reception

During the live demonstration at RAICo1, attendees witnessed the Periscopic system in action. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the high image resolution and colour fidelity – a stark contrast to current inspection methods.

A range of use cases was discussed during the event – environments where human access is impossible, and existing camera technologies fall short. The central Sellafield R&D team who supported this recent project phase acknowledge the innovation’s potential for wider deployment and applications far beyond the original inspection challenge.

Looking ahead: from concept to deployment

The Periscopic project has been supported by the Game Changers programme, which funds novel technologies aimed at solving complex nuclear industry problems. With early feasibility and prototyping phases complete, Ice Nine is now preparing for further development, including hardware enhancements and features such as image stitching for panoramic views. Further on-site trials and active deployments will refine the system based on real-world requirements. With broad applicability across Sellafield and potential relevance across the entire NDA estate, this cost-effective, low-risk innovation represents a new frontier in remote inspection.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved,” said a spokesperson from Ice Nine. “By combining centuries-old optics with today’s engineering, we’ve created a simple yet powerful tool that tackles a longstanding problem in a fresh way. We’ve really valued the input from Sellafield challenge owners that has enabled us to develop a relevant technology, whilst FIS360’s management has been vital in successful delivery of this project.”

As Sellafield continues to prioritise safety, efficiency, and innovation, technologies like Periscopic mark a significant step forward – ensuring that even the most inaccessible corners of the site are no longer out of sight.

Game Changers Challenge: Asset inspection through 19mm diameter access ports

Sellafield Ltd are seeking solutions to enable the remote, visual inspection of duct systems. The duct systems are long and congested areas, with tank rooms positioned along their length. Access is restricted to a 19mm bore inspection port through 0.35m - 1m of concrete. Inspection of this ductwork and the adjoining tank room areas are required in order to understand more about their condition and the condition of the assets inside. To-date, this has proven challenging, and this is primarily due to the access constraints. A solution that can be deployed through narrow access ports that provides reliable, high quality images of the areas inside, would be of high interest to Sellafield Ltd and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) estate more widely.

Challenge Aims

The solution to this challenge must be capable of providing a detailed visual inspection of an entire duct system, and six adjoining tanks rooms, providing high-quality still images and real time video feed to the operator, where access to the duct system is constrained to a 19mm diameter bore through 0.35m - 1m of concrete.

The duct systems (L x W x H: ~270m x 3m x 3m) are long and congested areas, with tank rooms positioned along their length. The deployment system must provide a method of determining the depth of entry of the camera system.

Remote operation is required, and the operator can be stationed at the entrance of the access port. The next scheduled inspection is in 2025, and Sellafield are seeking a step-change improvement over the existing capabilities. Due to the time limited nature of this challenge, there will be an emphasis on well-developed technologies.