Remote Handling

Remote handling introduction

Remote handling solutions across nuclear decommissioning and fusion energy engineering are currently expensive and narrowly focused. Performing tasks can still be easier by hand than with a teleoperated robot. We hope to blur that line and make automation the go-to choice.

Increased accessibility in decommissioning is essential and RAICo is supporting the NDA’s Grand Challenge to reduce human activity in hazardous environments by 50% before 2030. State-of-the-art technologies for automating are available but integration remains challenging. We are collaborating with technology partners to develop real-time control and 3D visualisation tools for safe and reliable operation. Operators will find their job becoming more comfortable, effective and enjoyable, whilst delivering higher throughput, better uptime, lower maintenance cost and improved traceability.

We are also building a software development platform to host the pipeline of work from the identification and exploration stage to the maturation and deployment of concepts in software and hardware technologies in remote handling. Technology concepts will be evaluated and developed, in collaboration with the supply chain, to become business as usual. This includes robotic hardware, input devices and vision systems, and the underlying control software.

Why?

• The NDA has a Grand Challenge for a 50% reduction in decommissioning activities carried out by humans in hazardous environments by 2030. However, robotic handling solutions are currently expensive and often narrowly focussed.
• State-of-the-art technologies for automating are available but integration remains challenging. Currently, performing tasks can be easier by hand than with a teleoperated robot. The intention is to make automation the go-to choice.
• Operators will find their job becoming more comfortable, effective and enjoyable, whilst delivering higher throughput, better uptime, lower maintenance cost and improved traceability.

How?

• This work will develop a suite of technologies that improve operators’ ability to orchestrate safe and efficient remote handling operations.
• This will centre around integration of technologies in the context of a robotic glovebox. The main aim is for enhanced operator experience: reduced complexity, ease of use and improved control.
• Technology concepts will be evaluated and developed, in collaboration with the supply chain, to become business as usual. This includes robotic hardware, input devices and vision systems, and the underlying control software.
• A software backbone will bring these technologies together for a seamless operator experience.

Robotic glovebox

RoBox is a robotic glovebox, which includes two ceilingmounted robotic arms, that aims to achieve “hands out of gloveboxes”. RAICo1 will host a demonstrator RoBox, to facilitate discussions and perform tests of the vision and manipulation systems using physical samples.

The current RoBox design incorporates a Kuka LBR robot with an RG6 gripper. This can be operated directly with a haptic feedback device, or using MoveIt for automatic motion planning. A Kinova robot arm will be added in the next phase. This hardware platform will be enhanced with various technologies seamlessly integrated together, including:

• Seamless manual intervention during automated operations
• Use of modern AI vision recognition systems
• Pose estimation, path planning and advanced mission planning enhanced teleoperation experience by adding a digital twin to help operators visualise hard-to-see items and provide guardrails on the manual manipulation of robots
• Interactive simulations for mission planning and training for operators and AI agents