Page 14 - Demo

14ARGO%u2019s flexibility means that there%u2019s no need to modify the glovebox itself, simplifying the process of deployment.Rather than replacing the operator%u2019s skill, it augments it. Its control and feedback give the operator a high degree of dexterity. An Xbox console controller is used to steer the robot arm through the glove port. Once the robot is inside the glovebox, the operator uses a device from Haption (the Haption Virtuose) to teleoperate the robot. The Haption controller allows intuitive control of the robot and also provides force feedback to the operator. This allows for precise, unhurried command over the end effector and individual joint movements. Yet the ARGO system goes beyond mimicking humanlevel dexterity and sensitivity. It also offers pre-programming of defined operational sequences. Operators can queue sequential actions, reducing waiting times during tasks and increasing efficiency. During decommissioning, when speed is important, these kinds of efficiencies are vital. The transition to decommissioning required a change in culture, prioritising speed and encouraging innovation. Sellafield calls this the %u2018Decommissioning mindset%u2019. ARGO enables this mindset by unlocking greater capacity from each glovebox operator, reducing costly delays. Furthermore, we%u2019re looking at developing full virtual reality (VR) control, integrating real-world scan data so that the robot can be controlled via a headset. As digital twins emerge, the VR operating environment will grow richer and more connected to reality, potentially providing ARGO with deeper insights supporting broader capabilities. This is much more than a cosmetic improvement. VR control will allow operators to rehearse tasks in a safe, virtual environment. It allows them to cut paths in a virtual 3D glovebox from scan data, before enacting procedures in the real world. By integrating with condition monitoring, VR could also provide payload warnings if motor temperatures are exceeded and collision prediction methods, reducing the risk of clashes.All this, however, relies on more than just technical progress. The RrOBO project %u2013 standing for Risk reduction Of gloveBox Operations, aimed at deploying ARGO - already presents a significant innovation on existing approaches. It requires proper training so that staff can easily adopt the new technology, achieve its potential, and reap the rewards. We hosted operator familiarisation sessions, inviting operators in the facility to interact and work with the system - helping to win buy in, adoption, and to get vital feedback. Wider stakeholders also joined these demonstrations. Its small size, ease of use, and impressive dexterity mean that operators could use the kit as a tool, augmenting their own dexterity and know-how rather than replacing it.Having a physical prototype that people can see and interact with was critical. If you%u2019re not close to the technology, descriptions can be misleading, and the resulting uncertainty can do as much as any technical fault to discourage uptake, even causing staff to shun it. Physically demonstrating it can avoid these misunderstandings and allay fears. After all, one of the key reasons why such innovation hasn%u2019t yet been done in nuclear is not because the tech itself is so advanced, but because the industry%u2019s cultural and commissioning aspects are hard to shift. continued from previous pagecontinued on next pagedan.payne.wagstaff.com www.WagstaffAT.com