24 April 2015
Mobile robots reduce the need for manned entry into radioactive environments e.g. areas of high beta/gamma mixed wastes, a widespread problem in the context of waste vaults at nuclear power plants. They provide an invaluable option for the safe retrieval and disposal of contaminated materials, whilst safeguarding the environment and minimising radiation exposure to operators.

This project will help deliver optimised, widely applicable intelligent control architectures for industry-specified decommissioning tasks. Our Brokk-based system, with dual seven degree-of-freedom manipulators and a flexible tool configuration, has already been used at the NNL’s Workington laboratory for successful trials in relation to a Sellafield Ltd project.

The new bursary would develop novel autonomous robotic systems based on object depth perception and force feedback, and with improved operation via a touch screen controller interface. These will address inherent uncertainty in the application case study environments, including welding, pipe cutting and material discrimination.

We welcome applications from graduates who have a passion for robotics and have, or expect to obtain, a good degree in engineering (first class or upper second). If interested, contact Dr James Taylor (c.taylor@lancaster.ac.uk) or Dr Allahyar Montazeri (a.montazeri@lancaster.ac.uk), Engineering Department, Lancaster University.