The RAICo team has been giving reflections on the successes and learnings from the Harnessing Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Challenging Environments (HRAICE) event.
The event highlighted how robotics and artificial intelligence can address the global challenges of climate change and energy security.
Keynote speakers from the nuclear sector shared their visions for safely deploying the latest technologies. Robotics and AI were described as vital to make processes safer, faster, and more cost-effective.
Almost 300 delegates and exhibitors who attended the event held at Energus, Lillyhall, Cumbria, also heard about the critical need for industries to adopt robotics and AI.
RAICo was highlighted for its role in accelerating the deployment of robotics and AI to remove people from harmful environments.
The discussions, which involved a range of supply chain companies, highlighted the positive social impact of robotics and AI, showcasing opportunities to upskill workforces, create higher-skilled jobs, and offer exciting career prospects for young people and graduates.
Supply chain plays crucial role
Kirsty Hewitson, Director of RAICo, said: “The supply chain is absolutely crucial to RAICo’s success and that broader success across both Sellafield, the wider NDA estate but also the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
“They (the supply chain) absolutely possess those unique skill sets, technologies that they have developed over many years, which we should be tapping into and harnessing and working collaboratively with them.
“It was great to see a number of those large and small companies come to the event and join in the discussions taking place across the room.”
Stakeholders and collaborators come together
Kate Canning, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Head of Research and Development, said: “The HRAICE event was a great opportunity to showcase some of the fantastic ways RAICo has been working and the progress we have made.
“It was fantastic to see so many supply chain, stakeholders and collaborators there.
“I particularly enjoyed the early careers and student session, seeing some of the new talent coming through and how we are trying to support them. I hope to see some of them when we come back for HRAICE 2034!”
The pace of progress is phenomenal
Rav Chunilal, Head of Robotics & Artificial Intelligence, Sellafield Ltd, said: “The event was exceptionally well-organised and smoothly run, showcasing advancements that are aiding both nuclear decommissioning across the NDA group and technologies supporting UKAEA operations.
“The pace of progress is phenomenal and continues to blow me away, with real, tangible connections to operators who are implementing these technologies on our sites to reduce workforce risk.
“I was particularly impressed by the school students’ engagement and their enthusiastic discussions about their activities, this is where RAICo is truly making a difference through the power of collaboration.”
A celebration of what we can achieve together
Jenn Jones, Nuclear Robotics Programme Manager, University of Manchester, said: “The HRAICE event was a fantastic opportunity for industry, supply chain, academia and local stakeholders to come together and showcase recent advances in RAI technologies.
“It was great to see how much things have progressed since RAIN (the University of Manchester led academic network) ran a similar event in 2019 and hearing how some of these technologies have now been deployed across NDA sites and further afield.
“The event benefited from the addition of the Early Careers section, highlighting the breadth of engagement and outreach opportunities being explored through the collaboration: the enthusiasm exuded by those involved was palpable. It really was a celebration of what we can achieve together.”
