Korea's nuclear waste cleaning robot throws bottle with precision

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has showcased its humanoid robot ARMstrong Dex performing a precise throw of a 500 ml water bottle into a barrel, demonstrating advanced high-speed coordination, trajectory control, and endpoint accuracy. This capability is critical for disaster response scenarios where robots must deliver lightweight supplies like medical kits or water to trapped victims in hazardous or obstructed environments without risking human safety. The robot’s ability to transition from slow, heavy-duty tasks to fast, precise movements highlights its growing agility alongside its already demonstrated brute strength. ARMstrong Dex is designed to operate in nuclear and disaster zones, featuring human-scale size and reach, caterpillar tracks for navigating unstable terrain, and manipulators capable of complex tasks such as valve turning and rubble removal. Beyond strength feats like lifting over 50 kg and performing weighted pull-ups and curls, the robot’s refined control systems enable delicate operations like the bottle throw. KAERI has transferred this technology to Victex for use in nuclear power plant decommissioning