CHALLENGE 1:
MAPPING OF SITE INFRASTRUCTURE
- Mapping HVAC, stacks, structures etc.
- Site and location geometry characterisation.
- Special consideration should be given for applications or irradiated materials.
CHALLENGE2:
HEALTH MONITORING OF COMPONENTS DURING LIFETIME
- Monitoring the thickness / corrosion of walls/ civil works parameters (dome walls cementation cracks/areas).
- Taking material samples (limited to surface swab and corrosion material, i.e. if valve piston degraded).
- Monitoring the health of components (temperature, pressure, geometry over time - wall thickness).
- Access to confined regions (pipe systems, vessels, etc.).
- Monitoring/inspecting pipes internally (health of cabling, EMC, EMI etc).
CHALLENGE 3:
INSPECT / SUPPORT REPAIR OF EQUIPMENT
- Taking samples of within spent fuel storage pools (such as water in vicinity of spent fuel or pool walls surface - not fuel samples per se).
- Inspection and plugging of steam generator pipes.
- Inspect/replacement of components or supporting activities.
CHALLENGE 4:
CLEAN ROBUSTLY (PARTS OF) NUCLEAR INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT
- Cleaning of surfaces of such as in long-term storage pools and/or access restricted areas.
- Decontamination of irradiated items during the dismantling and decommissioning phase.
CHALLENGE 5:
WASTE DISPOSAL AND DECOMMISSIONING ACTIVITIES
During the normal operations and decommissioning phase of a nuclear infrastructure, various standard and
irradiated components and items have to be characterised, dismantled or have to be reduced in size for
appropriate disposal.
Activities to support these operations via robotics solutions should be provided:
- Clean and/or reduce size of standard and irradiated components.
- Movement of the inventory of radioactive waste items within specified working areas (e.g. movement of a cut piece of irradiated steel from the area it was cut to a designated area related to the dismantling process).
- Other dismantling operations of component such as cutting, unscrewing of bolts, re-shaping etc.
CHALLENGE 6:
OPEN
The last challenge refers to any generic support tool or assistance, either via a robotic or automation system, that is not included in the above categories and aims at supporting the general operation or decision making process by the site management and/or supplements/reduces the need for human tasks in inspection and maintenance activities on the nuclear site.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Access in areas where the thermal or radiation environment has limitations on the presence of a human activities.
- Remote handling.
- Transport of various loads in areas with environmental constraints.
- Robotics solutions with sensors and tools that can withstand harsh environments and robotics for use in checking for any degradation parameters (such as corrosion etc) on infrastructure/items contained within a nuclear site.