Robotics, Automation, and Sensors

Abstract

Automation and robotic technology have traditionally been quite popular in the manufacturing industry mostly in automotive sector and electronic industries. At a significant chronological juncture, this technology was first welcomed for applications in hostile environments like nuclear and space applications for obvious reasons that necessitated further advancements in this exciting domain. Automation and remote handling with robotic technology play a crucial role in almost all facets of nuclear fuel cycle: fuel fabrication, postirradiation examination (PIE), in-service inspection (ISI) of plants and components, fuel reprocessing and waste management, and, last but not the least, decommissioning of nuclear plants. In nuclear reactors, the synergistic effects of radiation, temperature, and lack of space make the use of automated, robotic, and remote handling devices imperative for any unforeseen intervention for repair or maintenance and for periodic inspection to assess the integrity of the components or the subsystems. The typical demands and challenges to the robotics and automation community in the nuclear energy sector are depicted in Figure 33.1.Robots and automated inspection systems make great use of sensors for position location, distance assessment, object recognition, and guidance. Apart from this, sensors enable nondestructive examination of components. These sensors, also called the end effectors, exploit the recent advances in optics, infrared, ultrasonic, magnetic, electromagnetic, and other related domains to enable development and deployment of automated robotics systems for inspection of inaccessible components, especially for detection and imaging of corrosion and weld defects.The nuclear fuel cycle opens up a plethora of opportunities for deploying robots, often as the only feasible means to achieve an end. Development and implementation of various robotic and automated devices could be justified by the safe and efficient operation of nuclear reactors and associated plants. The impact of remote handling, automation, and robotics in the various facets of the fast reactor fuel cycle is shown in Figure 33.2.Throughout the world, automated devices and robotic systems have been developed in active collaboration with industry for carrying out ISI. The use of robotics, automation, and sensors assumes great importance to ensure plant safety, increase plant availability, and in the context of aging management. The developments in robotics and automation in this fascinating area have been discussed in the following sections, with a specific reference to the automation, robotics, and sensors for the fast reactor fuel cycle.