Autonomous robots to segregate radioactive waste at UK nuclear plant

The UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is set to deploy autonomous robots at the former Oldbury nuclear power station site to segregate radioactive waste, marking a significant advancement in nuclear waste management. The project, named Auto-SAS (autonomous waste sorting and segregation system), aims to separate low-level waste from intermediate level waste retrieved from on-site vaults. This robotic system, developed through a collaboration between AtkinsRéalis and Createc (jointly known as ARCTEC), will use sensors and robotic manipulators to accurately categorize waste, thereby reducing reliance on costly disposal routes and enhancing safety by removing human workers from hazardous environments. The NDA has committed up to £9.5 million over four years to this initiative, which also involves Nuclear Restoration Services, Sellafield, and Nuclear Waste Services. The technology promises to save hundreds of millions of pounds in waste storage and disposal costs while enabling workers to develop new skills. UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks highlighted the project as a key innovation