MIAMI - EM is joining federal agencies, national research laboratories, industry and academia for a seminar to explore integrating robotic systems into hazardous work environments to help workers accomplish high-risk tasks.
The robotic experts will take part in the seminar titled “Robots, Sensors & Humans - Benefits & Challenges of the Implementation of Robotic Systems in Hazardous Environments."
The event takes place May 3 and 4 at Florida International University (FIU), home to the Applied Research Center (ARC). The center provides technical research support to EM in environmental remediation and student workforce development for high-priority areas such as radioactive waste processing and facility deactivation and decommissioning.
EM is increasingly promoting the use of advanced robotic technologies in its cleanup to enhance worker health and safety and improve performance, productivity and overall quality. Its mission and cleanup challenges match with the many domains of robotics, involving underwater, under or below ground, aerial, and access-restricted locations.
Rod Rimando, director of EM's Office of Technology Development, will present at the plenary session focusing on robotics applications and needs.
“The integration of mobile robotic platforms and advanced sensors is critically important in allowing us to better understand the physical environment in which we work and to better understand the extent and nature of hazards in those work spaces," Rimando said. “This seminar brings greater focus on solutions for this mission challenge and opportunity."
Panel discussions will cover mobile robots and sensors for hazardous work environments; human and robot interaction; and wearable robotic devices and smart personal protective equipment.
A roundtable discussion will discuss how end-user guidance benefits the development and deployment of robotic systems.
The seminar includes a tour of ARC and live technology demonstrations of commercially available robotics and robotic technologies being developed.
The event is sponsored by TechNeeds, a collaboration between ARC and the Waste Management Symposia, which focuses on global radioactive waste management. The seminar is co-sponsored by the Energy Technology and Environmental Business Association.
For more information, go to www.techneeds.org.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
