Sellafield Ltd, in collaboration with the Robotics & AI Collaboration (RAICo), has successfully trialled a patent-pending contamination swabbing tool mounted on a quadruped robot in a radioactive area. The trial showcased how robotics can support routine health physics tasks efficiently while reducing the need for personnel to enter potentially hazardous environments.
Swabbing is a critical daily activity at Sellafield, where health physics teams monitor radiation levels using circular paper filters. This data helps guide decommissioning strategies and ensures compliance with strict safety regulations. The newly developed robotic tool replicates the complex swabbing motions usually performed by humans, using a specially shaped attachment, a haptic controller from Haply Robotics, and custom software developed by RAICo that translates real-time operator hand movements into commands for the robot’s manipulator.
The deployment was planned by Sellafield’s Remote Technology Group, which evaluates and implements robotics, AI, and unmanned systems across the site. During the trial, the robot, Spot, was sent into a controlled restricted area to swab a mock-contaminated surface marked with blue chalk, simulating a radiological spill. The robot successfully completed the task, demonstrating that human-performed swabbing processes could be executed remotely without compromising accuracy or safety.
The success of the trial highlights the potential for wider adoption of robotics across Sellafield and the broader nuclear estate. By reducing risk, improving efficiency, and maintaining high safety standards, such innovations are set to transform decommissioning operations. Deon Bulman of Sellafield Ltd noted that the quadruped robot’s agility, stability, and haptic feedback allow it to access hazardous areas while performing precise, human-like tasks, supporting faster, safer, and more cost-effective operations.
Dr. Kirsty Hewitson, Director of RAICo, emphasized that the trial exemplifies how collaborative innovation among RAICo partners, academic institutions, and UK companies delivers significant value for the nuclear sector. The deployment also follows a successful inactive test at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility earlier in 2025, indicating the technology’s broader potential for both nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering sites.
