A robotic cutting tool for contaminated structure maintenance and decommissioning

• A robotic cutting tool for the decommissioning of contaminated structure is proposed.
• The user safe teleoperated device is used for operating in contaminated environments.
• Clamping and feeding mechanism are hydraulic, the cutting is electric powered.
• A hybrid control safely drives both the hydraulic and the electric motor actuation.
• Two diamond wire cutting tools prototypes are constructed and successfully tested.

With the global dependency on fossil fuels being undermined by growing prices and environmental concerns, nuclear power is returning as a solution for energy demands, however the increased cost of maintaining and updating ageing plants could render them nuclear alternative counter-economic. The development of tools specifically targeted at the maintenance field is vital to ensure the longevity and safety of existing power plants.This paper proposes a robotic tool capable of remotely cutting composite material structures. With design and engineering focused on the safety of the operator and automation, the proposed machine presents sufficient flexibility to be utilised in both maintenance and decommissioning of structures with low to medium levels of radioactive contamination.