The robotic system has been launched by Atommash, Rosatom’s mechanical engineering division, to inspect welded joints in nuclear power plant reactors and steam generators.
Ultrasonic testing is used to detect any defects that might not be caught in a visual inspection and is widely used in the nuclear and other industries.
There is also a fast-growing range of robotic solutions being used in the construction, inspection and decommissioning of nuclear energy facilities. The newly launched spider robot can navigate a range of surfaces at different angles and can be manoeuvered to hard-to-reach areas.
Oleg Shubin, Quality Director at Atommash, said: “By implementing robotics, we not only improve production efficiency but also create the work environment of the future. To achieve a quantum leap in development, we must create products that will shape the future. Digitalisation is becoming the key tool for this. A modern plant is a place for innovation and the implementation of bold projects. The spider robot is a clear example of how technology serves the safety of the nuclear energy industry.”
Atommash said it is part of a series of developments designed to create a “digital” plant, and says that in total 30 robotic automation projects are in the process of being implemented which it says will potentially save hundreds of thousands of person-hours a year in “transportation, welding, cleaning and inspection processes”.
