The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Oxford Robotics Institute have made history by successfully deploying a fully autonomous robot inside the Joint European Torus (JET) fusion facility. During a 35-day trial, the robotic system conducted comprehensive inspections without human intervention, marking a significant advancement in fusion energy maintenance technology.
Pioneering Autonomous Maintenance for Future Plants
This breakthrough demonstrates how autonomous systems could transform maintenance in future fusion powerplants, where human access may be restricted due to extreme radiation, vacuum conditions, and temperatures. The project utilized Oxford’s “AutoInspect” autonomy platform controlling a Boston Dynamics Spot robot, which navigated JET’s complex environment while collecting critical sensor data and avoiding obstacles.
Enhancing Safety and Reducing Costs
Dr. Robert Skilton of UKAEA emphasized the trial’s importance in validating autonomous technology for hazardous environments. “These solutions are becoming ready for nuclear decommissioning and disaster relief scenarios,” he noted. The robot performed twice-daily inspections, mapping the facility and assessing environmental conditions – tasks traditionally requiring human operators in protective gear.
Cutting-Edge Technology Integration
The system combined UKAEA’s inspection payload with Oxford’s localization algorithms and Boston Dynamics’ hardware, creating a robust autonomous platform. Professor Nick Hawes highlighted how such real-world applications drive innovation in AI and robotics, pushing researchers to develop new algorithms that address practical constraints in extreme environments.
Accelerating Commercial Fusion Development
This successful trial at JET, which recently completed its final deuterium-tritium experiments, provides crucial data for implementing autonomous systems in future fusion facilities like ITER and UKAEA’s STEP program. The technology promises to make fusion energy more commercially viable by reducing maintenance costs and radiation exposure risks, while ensuring reliable facility monitoring during both operation and decommissioning phases.
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