Dog-Like Robot Called Spot Created a 3D Map of Radioactive Area at UK Dounreay Nuclear Plant
As part of the UK’s decommissioning efforts of the Dounreay nuclear site in Scotland, a dog-like robot called Spot designed by Boston Dynamics has mapped out a radioactive section that’s been sealed off for 25 years.
The trial was run by Dounreay personnel and staff from Createc, the systems integrator for Spot.
Two Spots were deployed at an evaporator cell in the Fuel Cycle Area, which houses the facilities where the separation of spent fuel and the recovery of uranium and plutonium used to take place. Both Spot and its operators were initially trained on a wooden mock-up of the evaporator cell. During the next phase, the robot, wrapped in a protective suit, climbed several flights of stairs and entered the actual cell.
Once inside, Spot managed to create a 3D-map of the four-story cell and collected radiological data to create a dosimetry map showing the areas with higher radioactivity levels.
“Spot has shown us the hazards that might affect workers who are tasked with the decommissioning. The obtained data will help to reduce the risk and ensure safety of the employees,” – said Bernie Jones, Project Manager at Dounreay.
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