Michael Houry

Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives

Papers

Total Citations

122

H-Index

About

Michael Houry has made pioneering contributions to the development of advanced robotic systems for operation in hazardous and inaccessible environments, with a primary focus on nuclear fusion facilities. His key research areas include long-reach articulated robotics, remote handling technologies, and inspection systems for tokamaks. Houry’s most notable achievement is leading the development and operation of an ITER-relevant inspection robot on the Tore Supra tokamak, a landmark project that demonstrated the feasibility of deploying articulated robotic arms in the extreme conditions of a fusion reactor. This work, published in 2009 and cited 64 times, established foundational techniques for remote inspection and mini-invasive interventions in radioactive environments. His subsequent research, including a highly cited 2011 paper (34 citations), expanded these concepts to broader hazardous settings, such as nuclear waste management and energy industry maintenance. Through his leadership at CEA LIST’s Interactive Robotics Laboratory, Houry has advanced the design of long-reach manipulators capable of navigating complex, confined spaces while withstanding radiation and vacuum conditions. His contributions have directly influenced the development of remote handling systems for ITER, the world’s largest fusion experiment, and continue to shape the future of robotic intervention in extreme environments.