Boston Dynamics Robots Contribute to the Decommissioning of a Scottish Nuclear Power Plant
Two Boston Dynamics robots, known as Spot, played a crucial role in the decommissioning of the Dounreay nuclear station in Scotland. This development was reported by The Next Web.
The nuclear facility, situated in Scotland, had been closed for 25 years, and the Spot robots were instrumental in conducting a survey of the radioactive area during its final shutdown.
The Spot robots were deployed on the evaporator chamber within the nuclear fuel cycle area, which houses equipment for separating spent fuel and extracting uranium and plutonium. Staff from Dounreay, in collaboration with specialists from Createc, a company specializing in integrating Spot systems, conducted extensive tests with the robots. Initially, Spot underwent training using a wooden model of the evaporator chamber, and later, wearing a protective suit, it ventured into the actual chamber.
"Exploring this environment was challenging because it had been inaccessible for over 20 years, so the team didn't know what to expect. That's what made the deployment so complex," said Will Newsome, an energy expert at Createc.
The robot generated a complete 3D map of the four-level chamber and collected data to create a dosimetric map, indicating areas with elevated levels of radioactivity.
"After completing the initial preparatory work, Spot revealed to us the potential hazards that could affect workers involved in decommissioning nuclear power plants. We will use this data to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of our employees. This work also has the potential to save costs in the preparation of nuclear power plant decommissioning," said Bernie Jones, the project manager at Dounreay.
Over the next few months, the research team plans to explore seven more potential applications for these robots. This experience could prove invaluable in future operations related to the decommissioning of nuclear facilities and ensuring the safety of workers.
Developed by Boston Dynamics, the robot device known as "Spot" is described as a "mobile flexible robot." Thanks to its ability to navigate rough terrain, avoid obstacles, and climb stairs, it can perform monitoring and data collection in hazardous zones.
It's worth noting that in July, NASA conducted tests on the humanoid robot Valkyrie for potential use on the Moon.