Sellafield Ltd and the Robotics & AI Collaboration (RAICo) have completed the first trial of a contamination swabbing tool mounted on a quadruped robot in a radioactive area. The patent-pending device, developed through RAICo, replicates human swabbing motions using a custom attachment, haptic controller, and software. The trial demonstrated the robot’s ability to collect samples from mock-contaminated surfaces safely, reducing human exposure to hazardous environments. Swabbing is a routine task at Sellafield, with health physics teams conducting hundreds of swabs daily to monitor radiation levels. The successful deployment highlights potential for broader use of robotics in nuclear decommissioning, improving efficiency and safety. The trial followed a similar test at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility in 2025, underscoring collaboration between RAICo partners, academic institutions, and UK companies to advance nuclear sector technologies.
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Original source: https://www.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-robot-swabbing-technology-trialled-for-the-first-time-at-sellafield
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