Hot Robotics facilities to accelerate nuclear research

The National Nuclear User Facility for Hot Robotics (NNUF-HR) sites are funded by the EPSRC and will be managed by the project’s individual partners across the UK. They comprise Bristol University’s Fenswood Facility in Somerset; the RACE (Remote Applications in Challenging Environments) at UKAEA (UK Atomic Energy Authority) in Culham, Oxfordshire; Manchester University’s RAICo One in Whitehaven and the National Nuclear Laboratory’s (NNL) Workington Facility in Cumbria.

Users will be able to access technology and support that would otherwise be very difficult or expensive, including the hire of quadruped robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to use on-site or at their own locations. They can also bring their own technology to test in simulated environments and mock-up rigs.

UKAEA Culham campus to host General Fusion plant

While the facilities are available to the whole UK nuclear energy R&D community, UK academic researchers can access equipment for free through the ‘Access Scheme Fund’ which runs quarterly application rounds. Researchers can also apply for grants of up to £5,000 at any time.