Risk-reduction of glovebox operations (RrOBO)

Project

RrOBO

Benefits

Eliminates manual handling hazards, reduces contaminated-wound risk and enhances efficiency. Additional capabilities beyond handling waste are possible through the use of COTS equipment.

Current Status

Active deployment into gloveboxes on site has been approved at the Remediation portfolio board and will be delivered in 2024/25.

Delivery Partners

AtkinsRéalis, TKE

Contact Details

Yolande Smith

innovation.team@sellafieldsites.com

The Risk-reduction Of gloveBox Operations (RrOBO) project innovates nuclear glovebox operations. The baseline system for active deployment consists of a Kinova robotic arm protected by a containment sleeve and equipped with a parallel jaw gripper as the end effector. It is compatible with future tooling and mobile stands with cameras that allow for remote viewing and remote operator control of the robotic arm via a haptic controller with force feedback.

RrOBO aims to reduce risks with a robotic approach, eliminating manual handling hazards and enhancing efficiency. The system is initially targeting the clean-up and decommissioning of glovebox internals.

Stakeholder demonstrations presenting the RrOBO robotic arm deployed into a glovebox were completed at the Sellafield site by central RAI in collaboration with the Remediation technical & new capability team and our supply chain partners AtkinsRéalis and TKE, engaged through the Design Services Alliance.

The demonstration included fitting the containment sleeve, inserting the robotic arm into a glovebox and describing the selection of additional tools and capabilities that would become available through COTS items. These tools and capabilities include applying decontamination gel, swabbing, LiDAR laser scans, radiometric sensors, and many more. There was a wide range of interest from numerous organisations, such as the NDA, UKAEA, AWE, Dounreay and ONR.

The baseline system was then installed and operated in an inactive glovebox at the Sellafield training centre. Operator familiarisation sessions were run, with tasks including mock decontamination gel application and dummy waste pick and place.

The operators were able to pick up small items and place them in a can from another room after a few minutes. Feedback from the operators has been positive, with the robotic arm being able to extend further than a human arm and reach areas that are traditionally difficult to access. Additionally, there is a reduced risk of contaminated wounds by removing the need for operators to directly interact with nuclear material.