SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Four-legged robot Spot, developed by the Hyundai Motor Group affiliate Boston Dynamics, is being deployed in the United Kingdom to assist with nuclear facility decommissioning.
Sellafield Ltd., a state-owned company operating under the U.K.’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, recently disclosed that it is using Spot at nuclear cleanup sites.
Sellafield oversees the dismantling of nuclear facilities and the management of radioactive waste across the country. Many of its worksites restrict human access due to radiation hazards and complex internal layouts.
To address these risks, the company introduced a robot-based inspection system, deploying Spot to conduct remote surveys and gather data in areas that are difficult or unsafe for workers to enter.
According to Sellafield, the robot has been equipped with sensors tailored to nuclear environments and can navigate rough terrain and complex structures, including staircases. Spot captures 360-degree video and performs 3D scans to map site conditions, while operators monitor operations remotely through live video feeds.
The robot is also used for radiation characterization, measuring gamma and alpha radiation to determine contamination levels. It has recently completed trial operations involving swab sampling inside facilities — tasks previously carried out directly by workers — significantly reducing personnel exposure to hazards, Sellafield said.
The company added that Spot can operate on site for longer periods than human teams, helping accelerate overall decommissioning work. Reduced reliance on protective equipment has also cut waste volumes, while access to real-time data has improved decision-making and inspection consistency.
Sellafield said deployment of the robot resulted from collaboration between Boston Dynamics and the U.K.’s Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration, enabling operations to expand from initial trials to routine use.
Trial operations began in 2021, with successful testing in complex environments completed in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, Spot was deployed in high-radiation zones to collect inspection imagery and radiation data.
In 2025, Sellafield conducted what it described as the U.K. nuclear sector’s first remote robot demonstration outside a licensed plant boundary, confirming the potential for fully remote operations that separate workers from hazardous sites.
Sellafield said it plans to continue working with partners to expand Spot’s capabilities through additional sensor packages and deploy the robot more widely for radiation mapping and environmental surveys.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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