Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear Plus (RAIN+)

Completed

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fusion)
Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor B Lennox
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
University of Manchester

Standard

EPSRC

01 April 2021

31 March 2022

12 months

£1,975,413

Mechanical engineering

North West

ISCF Robotics

Professor B Lennox, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester

Mr RJ Adams, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham
Dr F Arvin, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester
Professor DA Axinte, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham
Dr S Benson, Sch of Engineering, Newcastle University
Dr JH Boyle, Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds
Dr J Carrasco, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester
Dr L Dennis, Computer Scienc, University of Liverpool
Dr C Dixon, Computer Scienc, University of Liverpool
Dr X Dong, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham
Dr G Epiphaniou, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick
Dr M Fallon, Engineering Science, University of Oxford
Professor M Fisher, Computer Scienc, University of Liverpool
Dr M Haroutunian, Sch of Engineering, Newcastle University
Professor W Harwin, Sch of Biological Science, University of Reading
Dr I Havoutis, Engineering Science, University of Oxford
Professor N Hawes, Engineering Science, University of Oxford
Dr G Herrmann, Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol
Professor MJ Joyce, Engineering, Lancaster University
Professor C Maple, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick
Dr PG Martin, Physics, University of Bristol
Dr A Mohammad, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham
Dr TS Richardson, Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol
Dr P Scarfe, Sch of Psychology and Clinical Lang Sci, University of Reading
Dr TB Scott, Interface Analysis Centre, University of Bristol
Dr A Tzemanaki, Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol
Dr SA Watson, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester
Dr A Weightman, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Professor NG Wright, Electrical, Electronic & Computer Eng, Newcastle University

The nuclear industry has a vast array of highly complex and diverse challenges that span decommissioning, waste management, fission power plants, advanced modular reactors and fusion reactors. In the UK, one of the most significant challenges is to decommission legacy storage facilities. There is estimated to be approximately 3,000 tonnes of high-level waste (HLW), 310,000 tonnes of intermediate level waste (ILW) and hundreds of radioactive facilities that need to be decommissioned in the UK alone. Despite significant progress during the first phase of RAIN, decommissioning continues to rely almost exclusively on manual operations, requiring people to enter extremely hazardous environments placing themselves at risk. Significant amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required, which reduces dexterity and lowers productivity to levels significantly below that of other industries. PPE also adds significantly to the waste materials that must be disposed of and as a consequence, makes some future operations infeasible. For example, it has been estimated that more than 1 million suited entries will be required to decommission the THORP plant alone on the Sellafield site. RAI technologies are therefore considered essential if the UK is to address its decommissioning challenges. In the future generation of nuclear power, fusion reactors will not be able to operate without advances being made to remote handling equipment. In addition, remote inspection and maintenance of new fission reactors is essential if they are to be commercially viable. RAIN+ will continue to push the boundaries of Robotics and AI (RAI) science, developing robotic solutions that solve major challenges facing the nuclear sector. To ensure that the work is relevant, has a long-term impact on industry, and leads to deployments of RAI technology into active facilities, RAIN will continue to work in close partnership with nuclear end-users, the supply chain and regulators. Furthermore, recognising that many of the hazards encountered in the nuclear industry are prevalent in other industry sectors, such as agriculture, construction, offshore and healthcare, RAIN will work to expand its user and application base such that RAI solutions can be developed that have cross-sector relevance and a single hub for all challenging environments, not just nuclear, can be established towards the end of this second phase

19/08/21