Cavendish to head robotics project for sorting nuclear waste

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Nuclear services company and Babcock subsidiary Cavendish Nuclear is leading a project which it says will use robotics to transform the way nuclear waste material is sorted, making it safer, faster and at a lower cost.

Cavendish won funding for its OptiSORT system, which is being carried out as part of an industry-wide partnership that includes Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

The funding forms phase 1 of a 2 part competition awarded by the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), in partnership with Innovate UK to fund innovative ideas that will find improved ways of sorting and segregating radioactive waste.

Also read: After long delays Europe's largest nuclear reactor gets go-ahead in Finland

The robotic technology will feature multiple integrated sensors and real-time decision making using machine learning and AI algorithms.

Tony Burnett, Head of Innovation and Technology for Cavendish Nuclear said: "The use of this technology will be brand new and is not something currently carried out on nuclear sites."

As well as Bristol Robotics, the OptiSORT project, includes Clifton Photonics Ltd., ImiTec Ltd., Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, Structure Vision Ltd. and Acrovision Ltd.

Cavendish said that the project will bring together experience and capabilities in the use of instruments for radiometric and chemical characterisation, spatial and visual identification and software tools for efficient packaging, and robotic/autonomous systems.

Burnett added: "It’s the strength of this partnership along with the technology that is really bringing the innovation to life. Our goal is to develop something that will save time, reduce risks and costs to make a significant contribution to achieving Nuclear Sector Deal2 objectives.

"OptiSORT is a significant technological leap forward and has the potential to transform the speed and efficiency at which we can decommission complex redundant nuclear facilities."

Also read: Recycling nuclear waste into 'near-infinite power' diamond batteries

An initial £60,000 (€69,000) of funding has been provided to Cavendish Nuclear and to thirteen other consortia, to undertake the three-month technical research and development feasibility study.

Following the conclusion of Phase 1 in late May, the consortia will compete for a number of contracts to take the concept to the next stage, which is to demonstrate system operation.  This will involve developing and demonstrating a full-scale prototype in a non-radioactive environment.

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