An immersive environment has been developed at the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo1) facility in West Cumbria to help nuclear specialists deliver decommissioning work.
The project, built by engineering company AtkinsRéalis, nuclear decommissioning group Sellafield Ltd and technology specialists Igloo Vision, brings together remotely operated robotics systems and data visualisation in an interactive space.
It is expected to reduce time spent in hazardous environments by 40%, by using live data streaming to enable virtual monitoring.
Rav Chunilal, Head of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at Sellafield Ltd, said: “This reflects a broader shift in how high-hazard industries can operate in the future. The real value comes from bringing together immersive environments, live operational data, robotics and intelligent systems to create a richer understanding of complex challenges.
“As these technologies converge, we move away from reacting to problems in the field to anticipating and rehearsing how to solve them virtually before work begins.”
The facility allows a team to walk the route virtually, with the 360-degree visuals accommodating up to 10 users.
The facility also provides a space for operations planning, allowing for test approaches and quicker responses to emerging issues. It is expected to transform how nuclear decommissioning is planned, rehearsed and delivered.
