Effective radioactive waste management: the role of Mobile Autonomous Sorting and Segregation (MASS)

MARKETS: Power & renewables; Nuclear

LOCATION: Cumbria, United Kingdom

CLIENT: Innovate UK

COLLABORATORS: The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Cyan-Tec Systems Ltd, PSC Systems and TKE Ltd

COMPLETION DATE: 2022

Introduction

The Mobile Autonomous Sort and Segregate (MASS) system is an innovative solution designed to enhance the efficiency and safety of radioactive waste management. The project, initiated in September 2021 and completed in November 2022, aimed to develop a system capable of sorting and segregating diverse radioactive waste objects into appropriate waste streams using advanced vision and AI technologies.

The challenge

The primary challenge addressed by the MASS system was the need to efficiently and safely manage radioactive waste. Traditional methods were labour intensive, posed significant health risks to workers, and were not always accurate. The goal was to develop a system that could autonomously identify, categorize, and handle waste objects, thereby reducing human involvement and improving overall efficiency.

The solution

The MASS system offers a comprehensive suite of services:

• Vision System: Utilizes industrial depth cameras and machine learning algorithms to identify and categorize waste objects with over 90% precision.
• Robotics & Automation: Features an industrial robot arm controlled by a central console, capable of handling and packing waste objects safely and efficiently.
• Integrated LIBS: Incorporates Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for rapid and accurate material analysis.

Key benefits and results

The MASS system delivers significant value by:

• Cost Reduction: Diverting Low-Level Waste (LLW) from Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW) streams, thereby reducing waste processing costs.
• Efficiency: Enhancing waste management efficiency through accurate sorting and segregation, and prioritizing recycling over disposal.
• Safety: Reducing human involvement in hazardous environments, thereby minimizing the risk of harm.

Future developments

Following the successful completion of the Innovate UK project, the next steps include:

• Securing Client Sites: For active deployment at nuclear sites in the UK, Europe, and North America.
• System Refinement: Refining the system for site-specific waste streams and incorporating learnings from the current project.