A world-leading alliance, it will see new robotics and automation techniques applied to both fusion research and to decommissioning nuclear facilities in
The £12M
This four-year research collaboration will be funded equally by
The collaboration between the three entities will see UKAEA's Remote Applications in Challenging Environments ("RACE") facility lead the project, design strategy and deliver new robotic capabilities with global potential.
It is also expected to result in direct benefits, such as employment opportunities, advances to "fusion-adjacent" technologies, upskilling of the
The decommissioning of legacy nuclear facilities and fusion facilities are complex large-scale projects that are time-intensive to accomplish safely.
Robotics and digital twin technologies will play an essential part in carrying them out efficiently with no risk to human health.
A major feature of the LongOps programme will be the deployment of sophisticated digital twin technology - virtual models where the pairing of the virtual and physical worlds allows for highly detailed analysis of data, and the forecasting of potential maintenance and operational issues.
"Digital twins" is a formative technology for the Industrial Internet of Things ("IIoT") enabling the optimisation of operations, improved productivity, and the ability to test and innovate in the virtual world before developing real world applications.
The software created will allow RACE to show how such machines are controlled in real-time during remote operations.
Developments from LongOps will also be applied to the upgrading, maintenance and dismantling of fusion devices, such as the Joint European Torus (JET), once their lifespans have ended.
Knowledge transfer from LongOps to other sectors shows the commercial potential of investing in UKAEA's fusion and robotics technologies.
Fusion is a form of low-carbon energy whereby the power of the sun is replicated on earth.
It promises minimal impact to the environment, long-term reliability and weather independence.
LongOps forms part of over £450m investment by Government into robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) projects since 2014.
To unlock the amazing potential of nuclear power, it's critical that the
This innovative research alliance with
The NDA group is a world leader in decommissioning - our high hazard challenges require innovative and efficient solutions. Robotics offers us new ways to tackle our complex work safely, securely and cost-effectively. This unique international collaboration allows us to pool expertise and experience from
It has been almost a decade since the Fukushima Daiichi(1F) accident on
I recognise that the robotics and remote-control technology is one of the most important key success factors for the FDR project.
I believe LongOps R&D will contribute a tremendous support to this FDR project, and I also feel secure that we can work with our partners, UKAEA, NDA/
This landmark international collaboration between the
Dr
LongOps will build long-term partnerships, such as that between
The project will build innovation pipelines with industry for new robotics and AI tools.
It will also solidify relationships between operators and researchers in the
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