Snake Robot Tries To Examine Fukushima Nuclear Reactor

Robotics  

A snake robot probe sent into the damaged reactor at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant stopped working three hours into its 10-hour mission, but not before sending back the first pictures from inside.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was a key impetus for the DARPA Robotics Challenge, aimed at developing functional robots that can help as the environment in the Japanese reactors is a fatal one for people.

Prior to having the technology of humanoid robots that can walk (drive and climb) into the disaster zone, a specially-designed snake robot with video capabilities has ventured inside one of the reactors. Unfortunately, after just three hours, it seems to have malfunctioned.

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The purpose of the project was to probe the No. 1 reactor to retrieve radiation readings and examine structural damage to the facility. The hope is that in the future, there will be a safe, efficient means by which to clean-up the melted reactors. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) provided the footage, delivering on their promise to release all new Fukushima data they gather.

To get inside the main reactor, the robot slithered its way through a 10 centimeter in diameter pipe. Once through the pipe, it transformed back into a U-shape to film its surroundings. The yellow numbers displayed at the bottom of the screen are the sieverts (units of radiation absorption) per hour. At one point, the shape-shifting robot recorded 9.7 sieverts per hour—enough to kill a human within 60 minutes, and probably a main factor in the failure of the robot.

The mission was intended to last 10 hours, but the robot broke down sooner than expected. The cause of the robot’s malfunction is unknown at this time, but TEPCO has said that the robot got stuck and stopped working. They are now investigating the cause before a different robot enters the site for further tests next year.




SOURCE  ABC News

By 33rd Square

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