ENVIRONMENTAL HARDENING OF A MOBILE-MANIPULATOR ROBOTIC SYSTEM FOR NUCLEAR ENVIRONMENTS

THIS PROJECT INVOLVES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE ROBOT SYSTEM THAT CAN WITHSTAND VERY HIGH LEVELS OF RADIATION AND VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. ALTHOUGH MANY ROBOT SYSTEMS ARE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE, NONE CAN OPERATE IN THIS EXTREME ENVIRONMENT, AS WAS DRAMATICALLY EVIDENCED DURING THE RECOVERY ACTIVITIES AT THE CHERNOBYL SITE. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS PROJECT IS THE MICROPROCESSOR-BASED CONTROL SYSTEM USED IN THIS TYPE OF DEVICE. A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SYSTEM IS BEING USED IN THIS TESTING, AND THE HARDWARE IS BEING TESTED IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBER TO SIMULATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED. THE COMPONENTS ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO BOTH HIGH RADIATION LEVELS AND EXTREME TEMPERATURES DURING PHASE I TO PRODUCE BASELINE DATA THAT WILL BE ANALYZED FOR FAILURE MODES. THIS ANALYSIS WILL PROVIDE DATA FOR THE PLANNING OF INDEPTH PHASE II TESTING AND DEVELOPMENT.