Robot dog restores power to Dounreay crane at flick of a switch
A robotic dog has again shown its value to the Dounreay decommissioning programme by carrying out a task that was beyond the reach of human workers.
Spot is able to work in hazardous areas thanks to attributes such as the ability to climb stairs, avoid obstacles and move over rough ground.
Its latest important job was to assist staff in the site’s Fuel Cycle Area by reactivating a crucial building crane in a reprocessing plant.
The crane had been deactivated at the switchboard in 2023. Safety restrictions prohibited human interaction with the switchboard, further delaying its reactivation.
However, the facility required the crane for waste shipment and for ongoing decommissioning efforts.
After consultation with the innovation team, it was decided to use Spot for the task. As the site’s own robot dog was not equipped with an “arm” handling device, the team asked the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo) for support.
RAICo – a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield and the University of Manchester – specialises in solving shared challenges in nuclear decommissioning and fusion energy by accelerating the use of robotics and AI. It has worked with Dounreay before on various projects.
Robotics experts from RAICo brought their Spot to the site and collaborated with the Dounreay team to work out the best approach. After a week of trials on a non-live switch mock-up in a nearby substation storeroom, the team confirmed that Spot could push the switch into the “on” position.
In an unprecedented manoeuvre, Spot used a gripped pole to flip the switch, successfully restoring power to the crane. A loud “clunk” marked the success of the operation.
Senior facility manager Suzy Nellies said: “Thanks to outstanding teamwork between the decommissioning team, RAICo, our colleagues in works control and the electrical team, we have achieved an excellent outcome. We can now proceed with modernising the crane to bring it back into full service.”
Kate Canning, the NDA’s head of research and development, said: “This is a fantastic example of collaboration through RAICo leading to acceleration of deployment of robotic technology to unlock a real-world challenge in an efficient and safe way.
“It’s supporting us to keep our people out of harm while developing them, transferring specialist knowledge and skills across our group.”
Dounreay’s robotic dog has visited schools and nurseries across the far north. Spot is created by robotics design company Boston Dynamics.
