Sellafield Ltd supports UK Robotics Week
For decades man and machine have worked hand in hand at Sellafield Ltd and this is why we're proud to support the first ever UK Robotics Week.
Robots are helping with the complex Sellafield clean-up mission
Today, their ability to support our clean-up mission by entering buildings that are too radioactive for human entry makes robots an essential part of the team.
Robotic technology is helping to clean up the Sellafield nuclear site more quickly and safely, ensuring that the risk posed to people and the environment by the site’s legacy facilities is reducing every day.
The UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Network has developed the concept of UK Robotics Week, not only to encourage experts from industry, government and academia to discuss how we can apply robotic technology, but also to help inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to push the boundaries further.
Technical teams at Sellafield Ltd are researching, developing and testing a broad range of robotic technology to help accelerate the decommissioning programme and make the UK a safer place.
Traditionally, organisations replace humans with machines in order to improve efficiency or reduce cost. At the Sellafield site, they work hand in hand to ensure work is done safely.
From unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robotic arms to underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and ‘laser snake’ cutters, robotic technology is helping us to clean up Sellafield more quickly and safely.
Rebecca Weston is the Technical Director at the Sellafield Ltd. She said:
The Sellafield site is becoming an international test bed for technology and innovation. This investment will not only help us clean up Sellafield more quickly and safely, it will bear fruits for the international technical community for years to come.
We are always seeking ideas that can help us decommission our site in better ways, and collaboration is a very important part of this. Technology providers (academic and business) are working with people on our site who understand the challenges we face, developing solutions to a very complex problem.
We are very proud of the technological advancements being pioneered and accelerated at Sellafield Ltd, with huge help from the supply chain and academia.