Decommissioning the nuclear waste from the sites safely has been a big task ever since the first nuclear disaster in history. Many have proposed the idea of robotic technology, which will make the rescue operation fast and less dangerous. Advancements have been made in this field to make the technology more efficient and precise in rescue operations.
In order to expand the possibilities of robotic technology into the nuclear decommissioning industry, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has transferred its advanced robotic technology, Armstrong, to Victex, a company in the nuclear decommissioning industry, to advance the technology.
KAERI, the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute, has been conducting research on nuclear safety with the integration of robotics since 2015 and developed ‘Armstrong,’ which was then deployed to the government-led disaster training in 2024.
Armstrong is capable of lifting heavy debris of objects weighing up to 200 kilograms (441 pounds), such as fuel drums or concrete blocks. Equipped with advanced mobility and the ability to navigate through complex and uncertain terrain adds to its capabilities. Armstrong can extinguish fire using the spray gun and can seal the fire door with its robotic arm, which is demonstrated in a controlled experimental setup.
The technology transfer between KAERI and Victex includes KRW 180 million (USD 125,000) and 3% of sales revenue. With this agreement, the Victex has Armstrong's manipulator arm, control systems, and remote control technology. This will enable the Victex to produce their own line of Armstrongs and deploy them to the nuclear sites. Victex’s future plans for Armstrong include integrating the capabilities of both dismantling radioactive products and the lead decontamination process in nuclear sites with radioactive contamination.
This can change how we approach the nuclear disasters during critical hours and can decrease the casualties by deploying these robotic rescuers to nuclear sites.
