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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Applying commercial robotics to processing in a hazardous-environment glovebox

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5872004
 [1];  [2]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
  2. Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, CA (United States)

Problems and their resolutions are described for a project to automate nuclear material processing operations through adaptation of commercial robotics. The project is adapting a gantry robot to a hazardous-material glovebox, developing unique peripheral equipment, and exploring advanced teleoperation techniques. The following problems and alternatives were addressed: suitable robot configuration; tradeoffs in controls, peripherals, flexibility, maintainability, and hardening for radiation, grit, and non-air environment; manually completing any operation; assured positive control over special materials; personnel safety in attended continuous operation modes. These are being successfully resolved in the staged program: from the feasibility demonstration to the current test-bed operating an actual processing cycle in the special atmosphere, to the projected production prototype system. 16 refs.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
5872004
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-107860; CONF-9110329--2; ON: DE92007305
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English