Robot Deployed at UK Nuclear Site
A quadrupedal "robot dog" has been deployed at the Sellafield nuclear site in the United Kingdom for hazardous inspection tasks. The deployment demonstrates the growing application of mobile robotics in environments that are unsafe for human workers. This use case highlights the value of robotics for inspection and maintenance in critical infrastructure.
- The robot is a Spot quadruped from Boston Dynamics, a Hyundai Motor Group affiliate, and its use at Sellafield is part of a broader effort to leverage robotics for safer and more efficient nuclear decommissioning. - Sellafield began trial operations with Spot in 2021 and, after successful verification in complex environments through 2022 and 2023, started using the robot for inspections in high-risk radiation zones in 2024. - The Spot robots at the site are equipped with specialized sensors for nuclear environments, including 360-degree video, 3D LiDAR for scanning, and sensors to measure both gamma and alpha radiation. - In a recent trial, Spot successfully demonstrated a contamination swabbing task, using a specially designed tool and a haptic controller to replicate the dexterity of a human operator. - The deployment is a collaboration involving Sellafield Ltd, the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and the National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (NCNR), a consortium of eight UK universities focused on developing robotics and AI for the nuclear industry. - Beyond Spot, Sellafield utilizes other robotic systems, including underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for monitoring storage ponds and crawler robots for inspecting pipework, highlighting a growing trend in the industry. - The use of robots like Spot allows for continuous, long-duration inspections in hazardous areas, which can accelerate the pace of decommissioning work while significantly reducing radiation exposure for human workers. - In 2025, Sellafield conducted the UK nuclear sector's first remote demonstration of Spot operating outside a licensed power-station area, proving the feasibility of fully remote operations.
