MIAMI - EM’s robotics needs and opportunities were part of a broader discussion on integrating such systems into hazardous work environments at a two-day seminar earlier his month.
Rod Rimando, director of EM's Office of Technology Development, opened the plenary session of the inaugural TechNeeds seminar attended by robotic experts from federal agencies, industry, academia, DOE’s national research laboratories, including EM’s Savannah River National Laboratory, and other entities.
“The remaining cleanup of the DOE EM mission includes the greatest technical and regulatory challenges we’ve yet to face," Rimando said to attendees of the seminar at Florida International University (FIU). “EM’s challenged spaces demand the use of robotic systems with advanced sensor technologies."
Current and developing technologies can help EM clean up the most challenging spaces, including hot cells, gloveboxes, operating facilities, underground facilities, underwater and aerial domains, and rugged, steep terrain.
“We are currently in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres. The new technology revolution, 4.0, is based on the use of cyber-physical systems," Rimando said.
Improving worker safety and increasing worker performance and efficiency were the two objectives for using robotics to complete EM’s mission, Rimando emphasized.
Seminar panels covered mobile robots and sensors for hazardous work environments; human and robot interactions; and wearable robotic devices and smart personal protective equipment.
Representatives from various agencies discussed important issues related to robotics, such as how these systems can support the workforce to accomplish tasks and constraints with developing and integrating them. A roundtable discussion addressed how end-user guidance can benefit early development of robotic systems.
Rimando closed the seminar by noting that the opportunities for robotics and other advanced technologies to make a mark on EM’s mission can be profound and significant.
“The issues to accomplish this are tremendous, but not unsurmountable," he said. “We need to infuse robotic technologies into the EM mission now to improve worker safety and efficiency."
The seminar’s host TechNeeds is a collaboration between the FIU Applied Research Center (ARC) and Waste Management Symposia. The event was co-sponsored by the Energy Technology and Environmental Business Association and MIRION Technologies.
Seminar participants came from dozens of agencies and organizations, including EM Idaho Cleanup Project contractor Fluor Idaho, NASA's Johnson Space Center and Arizona State University.
Attendees toured ARC and viewed live technology demonstrations of commercially available robotics and robotic technologies being developed.
Future TechNeeds seminars are being planned to address other research and development needs relevant to EM, other federal agencies and industry.
Rimando also met with DOE Fellows from the DOE-FIU Science and Technology Workforce Development Program. The Fellows took part in the seminar.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
