UK robot dog braves nuclear radiation to restart crane at radioactive waste site
After trial runs, Boston Dynamics’ Spot used a pole to flip a switch and power up a dormant crane at Dounreay nuclear site.
The UK has deployed a robot dog at a nuclear site to reactivate a dormant crane used for handling radioactive waste.
The four-legged robot, Boston Dynamics’ Spot, was sent into a potentially hazardous area in Dounreay near Thurso in Scotland to switch the equipment back on, marking a key step in efforts to manage and remove nuclear material safely.
Equipped with a special attachment, Spot gripped a short pole and successfully pressed the “on” button, reactivating the crane used to lift containers of radioactive waste.
In March, remote technology specialists achieved a milestone in nuclear cleanup by operating a robot from an off-site location for the first time.