One of the best use for robots is to go where people should not, such as nuclear sites. Forth Engineering has developed a remotely operated rescue robot built to help with disaster recovery in hazardous industrial environments. The Cumbria, U.K.-based firm developed the rescue robot for the Sellafield nuclear site. In the event of an incident, the robot can be sent in remotely and operated at a safe distance from a command-and-control center.
“This is a first for Sellafield to have this type of remotely operated rescue robot,” stated Mark Telford, managing director of Forth. “It is important for operators like Sellafield to plan for different scenarios, and we are proud to have come up with such an innovative solution.”
The company has facilities at Maryport, Cleator Moor, and Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria.
Robot built for nuclear containment
The mobile robot is built on a 1.6-ton JCB compact excavator platform, specially adapted to withstand conditions in hazardous environments. It includes wireless technology as well as specialist cameras and lights, said Forth Engineering.
The company said its robot can tow a trailer with a fitted hopper to disperse sand to contain any type of spillage. Also fitted to the robot is an affixative spraying system to assist in the containment of a nuclear spillage.
In addition, the robot has a large grapple hook to move obstructions. A specialized 700bar rescue tool similar to that used by the U.K. Fire and Rescue Service has also been fitted to the robot so it can cut through any hazards in its way and access the rescue zone.
Previous machines used at the Sellafield site have needed a tether. This is the first robot developed for the plant that can be remotely operated, according to Forth Engineering.
A mobile command-and-control center, fitted with live video streaming capability, will be towed to within a 150-meter (492.1 -ft.) radius of the rescue zone. As a result, the robot can be safely deployed and operated thoughout its mission, said Forth.
“It’s the ability to remotely operate it from a control and command center which makes it so versatile in a range of hazardous environments,” Telford said.
Others could benefit
Now that Forth Engineering has developed this robot for Sellafield, other organizations could benefit from the technology, noted Telford.
“We can adapt this technology for any industry or any organization which would benefit from a rescue robot helping keep humans safe,” he said. “We have developed this 1.6-ton robot because it was what was required for this particular task. But we could develop a product of any size—it could be 10-tons, for example, if that was what was needed—and fitted with any type of tools for a range of tasks.”
“As a company, we specialize in taking problem statements from clients, often involving protecting operators by distancing them from the workface,” Telford said. “We develop new methods using new tech, which provides a solution and allows the client to do what was previously not considered possible.”
“When we have developed that technology—such as in this case for Sellafield— we want to use that learning and apply it to other solutions for other organizations across a range of different industries,” he added. “We very much welcome organizations getting in touch with us and letting us know their problems so we can see if we can provide a solution.”
A2I2 successfully completes trials
For example, Forth recently demonstrated at its headquarters an underwater autonomous survey robot fitted with sonar technology to detect and avoid obstacles so it can be used near critical infrastructure.
The Autonomous Aquatic Inspection and Intervention (A2I2) robot project was led by Rovco and supported by Innovate UK under the Industrial Strategy Research Fund. Forth Engineering, Rovco, D-RisQ, the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Thales UK, and the University of Manchester participated in the research and development.
The project’s goal is to develop underwater autonomous vehicles (UAVs) that can improve safety and reduce the challenges of operating in hazardous environments such as in ponds at nuclear sites.
The A2I2 robot successfully completed its nuclear use-case Drop 2 trials at Forth’s Deep Recovery Facility in Cumbria in March.
Forth is also working with partners across Europe on the RESURGAM (Robotic Survey, Repair and Agile Manufacture) project and using its expertise to develop underwater friction stir welding technology to help make repairs to ships' hulls safer, faster, and more cost-efficient than conventional welding.
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