Tele‐operated climbing and mobile service robots for remote inspection and maintenance in nuclear industry

Abstract

Abstract Purpose – Aims to report on the various types of tele‐operated mobile service robots for remote inspection and maintenance, especially in the field of nuclear industry. Design/methodology/approach – Describes nuclear electric robot operator (NERO), Sizewell A duct inspection equipment (SADIE), Robug‐IIs (all leg‐based) and Roboslave (wheel‐based). Findings – That these robots can handle a significant portion of inspection and maintenance tasks in a typical nuclear plant, though, given that they are primarily tailor‐made, they are still too expensive for ordinary industries. Originality/value – As the interests of health and safety and paramount, this study sees the use of such robots expanding and diversifying, irrespective of cost.