Robots can Replace People to Work with Hazardous Waste at Nuclear Installations
Scientists from Argonne National Laboratory of the US Department of Energy (DOE) developed and tested a remote dual-armed telerobotic system with human-like capabilities.
The prototype was successfully tested in a non-radioactive medium in the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
According to Young Soo Park who leads Argonne’s Robotics and Remote Systems Program in the Applied Materials Division, the purpose of the telerobotics technology is to facilitate a telepresence to make the operators feel as though they are present within the hot cell, able to manipulate the objects with both hands.
The robotic hot cell technology could eventually replace hot cells and glove box systems (heavy shielded concrete cells with mechanical manipulators to move high-level materials) for a wide variety of hazardous materials handling applications. The system is mobile and can move from one hot cell to the next one. Operators can robotically handle, sort and inspect hazardous waste from a remote location without removing the materials from the cell.
The system runs on Argonne’s mixed-reality digital twin software platform and integrates virtual models, sensory display and hardware control technology. Digital twin technology acts as a bridge between the real and virtual worlds, creating a digital replica or twin of a physical object. The digital twin supports optimization in all phases of the remote operation system, including design, training operation and analysis.
Operators are equipped with a virtual reality headset and touch-sensitive haptic gloves can control the robots physically and virtually at the same time. When the operator moves its arms, the dual-armed robot mimics the movements. Sensors on the gloves provide operators with direct feedback that helps improve the precision and accuracy of the task.