Robot removes radioactive material from Fukushima nuclear reactor

Robots excel in tasks that are dull, dirty, or dangerous. And few jobs are more hazardous than the one undertaken by the RBR50 Application of the Year Winner.

Telesco, a remote-controlled robot, successfully retrieved a tiny fragment of radioactive fuel in October 2024 from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. This milestone marked a crucial step in the ongoing decommissioning of three reactors, which suffered catastrophic cooling failures following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, leaving behind an estimated 880 tons of radioactive fuel.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which operates the plant, deployed Telesco due to the extreme radiation levels inside the damaged reactors, which make human intervention unsafe. Scientists believe the retrieved sample will provide vital data to refine decommissioning strategies.

Although the sample was only the size of a grain of rice, TEPCO noted that it was significantly less radioactive than expected. Additional sampling missions will be required to gather more comprehensive data.

Dealing with nuclear waste is a formidable challenge, and TEPCO’s reliance on robotic technology plays a critical role in safeguarding workers and minimizing human exposure to hazardous environments.

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