IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL ROBOTIC APPLICATIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES AT THE WEST VALLEY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

IT IS PROPOSED THAT AN EXPLORATORY STUDY BE MADE OF A NUCLEAR WASTE FACILITY, SPECIFICALLY THAT OF THE WEST VALLEYHIGH LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITY IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION AND DECOMMISSIONING OPERATIONS WHICH ARE AMENABLE TO USE OF ROBOTIC DEVICES WITH A CONSEQUENT INCREASE IN SAFETY BY REDUCTION OF RADIOLOGICAL IMPACTS, EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY. REVIEW OF EXISTING STRATEGIES IN THE ROBOTIC INDUSTRY AND ITS PROJECTED DEVELOPMENTS WILL ALSO BE PERFORMED TO IDENTIFY THE AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES FOR THE VARIOUS APPLICATIONS AND HIGHLIGHT THOSE FEATURES WHICH ARE COMMON TO MORE THAN ONE APPLICATION. SOFTWARE NEEDS ANDHARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH APPLICATION WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND ROBOT COSTS PROVIDED. THE STUDIES WHICH HAVEBEEN ALREADY MADE WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND REVIEWED (E.G. THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDY ON ASSESSMENT OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS IN NUCLEAR REACTORS AND THE OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY WORK ON THE CLEAN-UP APPLICATIONS AT THE THREE MILE ISLAND POWER PLANT). THE INFORMATION ACCUMULATED WILL ALSO PROVIDE A VALUABLE INPUT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ROBOT LOGICS. IT IS FURTHER PROPOSED THAT THIS INITIAL EXPLORATORY STUDY BE FOLLOWED BY DEVELOPMENT OF A USABLE ROBOT.