Autonomous Robots Revolutionize Fusion Energy Facility Inspections

In a groundbreaking achievement, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI) have successfully deployed a fully autonomous robot to inspect a fusion energy facility for the first time. This 35-day trial, conducted at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility, marks a pivotal moment in the future of fusion power maintenance.

The experiment utilized a Boston Dynamics Spot robot, equipped with advanced autonomy systems developed by ORI. This robot performed key inspection tasks, such as mapping the facility, taking sensor readings, and avoiding obstacles without human intervention. The results demonstrated that autonomous robots could significantly enhance safety and efficiency in high-risk environments like fusion powerplants, where radiation, vacuum pressures, and extreme temperatures make human presence hazardous.

The autonomous inspection not only reduced the need for human involvement but also paved the way for cost-effective and safer maintenance of fusion facilities. This innovation could extend beyond fusion energy, with potential applications in nuclear decommissioning, environmental clean-up, and disaster relief efforts.

This project, supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, demonstrates how autonomous robotics can replace manual inspections and provide valuable data for the future decommissioning and repurposing of the JET facility.

The following video contains information of the autonomous robotic inspection and it's deployment.