Scientists from the University of Bristol will train robots, including Boston Dynamics’ Spot, to interact with radioactive waste. For this they посетили some of the most contaminated sites at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
\n\n\n\n
The team worked in Новом Безопасном Конфайнменте (НБК), which was erected over the fourth unit of the Chernobyl NPP in 2016. The scientists say this site is well suited for training robots in mapping and measuring radiation, to help keep people safe during the plant’s decommissioning.
\n\n
\n\n
This is Bristol-based group’s second visit to Chernobyl. Last year the mission failed, as the team overestimated the capabilities of their devices.
\n\n
“Some of the equipment we brought with us the first time, for example radiation detectors in the NBK, became saturated and could not record meaningful data,” said lead researcher Tom Scott.
\n\n
According to him, the team not only improved the measurement instruments for monitoring radiation levels but also brought robots capable of building three-dimensional maps of the terrain. These maps, overlaid with radiation data, could help more precisely determine its spread and location.
\n\n
Scientists are also considering using artificial intelligence algorithms for rapid scanning and assessment of dangerous changes in radiation levels that occur during the decommissioning of the facilities.
\n\n
The project is part of a consortium focused on applying robotics and artificial intelligence to study a nuclear environment that can be hazardous to humans, with the aim of expanding the use of these technologies across the industry.
\n\n
In ForkLog’s interview, MerkleBot CEO Vitaliy Bulatov welcomed such initiatives, calling Spot “the most advanced robotics platform to date.”
\n\n
“Despite concerns about a robot revolution or its use in security services, I believe Spot’s main or even sole application is data gathering. The case of collecting data on radiation levels is an excellent example,” he says.
\n\n
However, Bulatov says there is still a shortage of developers capable of endowing robots with useful applications. To address the issue, the company has launched a developer training course to teach developers how to train the Boston Dynamics robot.
\n\n
“In our lab, we ran an intensive program for developers in which we taught Spot to locate a person in rubble. It autonomously navigated an obstacle course and sent a message when cameras detected a person,” added Bulatov.
\n\n
In August, Boston Dynamics taught its robots parkour moves.
\n\n
In February, the New York Police Department deployed a Boston Dynamics robot dog to a crime scene in the Bronx.
\n\n
Months later, authorities pulled Spot from the scene after politicians and the public reacted negatively, deeming its appearance “too aggressive and intimidating.”
\n\n
Follow ForkLog’s news on Telegram: ForkLog AI — all the news from the world of AI!