China tests world-class robot arms for ‘artificial sun’ project

China has successfully tested a state-of-the-art robotic arm system designed for maintaining future fusion reactors, advancing its ambitious “artificial sun” project. The system, developed for the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, features three robotic arms, including a massive manipulator capable of lifting 60 tons—equivalent to the weight of 10 African elephants—with millimeter-level precision. This remote-handling platform is engineered to operate in the extreme conditions inside fusion reactors, such as high heat, intense radiation, and strong magnetic fields, where human intervention is impossible. During testing, the main arm achieved vertical lifting accuracy of 3 to 4 millimeters, while the smaller arms demonstrated positional accuracy within ±0.01 millimeters, making it the most advanced system of its kind in the fusion field. The robotic system addresses critical maintenance challenges posed by the harsh environment inside fusion reactors, where components like cladding and divertors endure constant stress from plasma and radiation