South Korean Robot Wins International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Challenge

A South Korean robot that can check radioactive fuel in nuclear reactors won an award provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a local nuclear institute said Monday, Yonhap reported

SEOUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Mar, 2018 ) ::A South Korean robot that can check radioactive fuel in nuclear reactors won an award provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a local nuclear institute said Monday, Yonhap reported.

The Spent Fuel Check Vehicle (SCV) developed by a team led by Park Jong-won of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute won recognition at the IAEA Robotics Challenge. In August 2017, the IAEA held the challenge to award robots that can collect data and measurements in areas near the reactor that can be difficult to access.

The challenge was aimed at finding robots not only to improve the working conditions of inspectors but also to enhance consistency, the report said. The South Korean team said the autonomous SCV can move at faster speeds than rivals and weighs only 11 kilograms.

The SCV, in addition, is equipped with a user interface system that can be easily controlled by humans to confirm the presence of spent fuel stored underwater, it said. The institute said it is in final discussions with the IAEA to use the robot in a field environment and plans to export it following final testing.