Decommissioning by Robotics: Sort & Segregation

BLISSS is a ground-breaking, pioneering development in sophisticated semi-autonomous robotics. Designed to take the place of human operatives and to dramatically accelerate the sort & seg. process, BLISSS combines robotic power and robustness with high-power Artificial Intelligence, advanced sensing and biomimetic manipulation.

Engineered for robust 24-hour operation, the system takes the form of a tracked ROV equipped with a pair of hydraulically actuated extended-reach arms. Precision-controlled electromechanical arms extend the hydraulic arms and are equipped with auto-adaptive grippers to perform manipulation tasks. Data acquisition is by means of a combination of sensor types with data output processed by state-of-the-art edge computing. AI analytics run on dedicated computers using reactive processes for sub-millisecond operations giving real-time decision-making capability.

The entire system is modular and reconfigurable at both the mechatronic and at the software architecture levels. Anything that BLISSS cannot currently do can be added as a new capability without modifying the baseline system. BLISSS is part of a suite of technologies developed by Barrnon and can be adapted to perform new tasks including and not limited to size reduction, sludge collection, data acquisition and waste handling.

Key Points

• Ground-breaking development in semi-autonomous robotics
• Major acceleration of the sort & seg process
• De-risking of the sort & seg process
• AI emulation of human decision-making for accuracy and reliability
• Industrial standard robotics for long reach and heavy loads
• Millimetric control and interactive sensing for handling delicate objects
• Sub-millisecond processing for real-time operation and major productivity gains
• Modular, scalable and reconfigurable for task adaptability

How BLISSS Works

The sort & seg process is performed autonomously. BLISSS enters semi-autonomous mode and calls for the assistance of a remote operator when a task cannot be completed safely without human intervention.

1. The BLISSS ROV enters a decommissioning cell and makes a 3D model of the environment and itself in that environment. Everything BLISSS does thereafter is understood and calibrated within this accurate model.
2. Items to be sorted are prioritised then collected one-by-one.
3. Each item is analysed and categorised according to industry rules then designated to an appropriate waste stream.
4. Items are delivered to the designated waste container.
5. A full Report is issued and data are entered in a standard industry form.

Product Features

• Highly mobile on tracks for unassisted operation
• Umbilical-free with on-board power storage and auto-recharge capability
• Secure and robust wireless data communications
• Biomimetic handling and sorting of objects of variant shape, size and conformability
• Robust hydraulic actuation for heavy lift tasks
• 24/7 operation in hostile environments
• Precision auto-positioning and millimetric end-effector control
• 20-foot arm-reach for maximised productivity
• VR augmented-reality remote control for semi-autonomous safe and error-free operation
• Independent formal mathematical methods safe operation supervisory system
• Transparent Artificial Intelligence
• Modular, reconfigurable for multi-mission capability