News archive
RACE’s Professor Rob Buckingham celebrated in New Year’s Honours list
The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Director of RACE, Professor Robert Buckingham, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to robotic engineering. The full New Year Honours list for 2021 recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. Reflecting on the award, Professor ...
RACE demo IRTF project to ITER
RACE has been running demonstrations of the latest IRTF project, IA5, to ITER via a live stream. Read about in the latest edition of the ITER Newsline. IA5 – Test Blanket Module IA5 demonstrates the feasibility of using remote handling to manoeuvre a mock-up of the ITER Test Blanket Module. In future fusion reactors, blanket ...
Updating JET’s remote handling system
The Joint European Torus (JET) is the world’s largest and most powerful fusion research device. The JET design includes a bespoke system for remote maintenance. Its 12m long snake-like booms reach into the vacuum vessel, delivering cameras and tools that enable operators to work remotely. The primary tool is MASCOT, a local-remote manipulator with haptic ...
New IRTF Animation
RACE’s latest animation shows the 4th IA in the IRTF programme – the VVPSS prototype remote maintenance strategy. VVPSS, the Vacuum Vessel Pressure Suppression System, allows operators to open a vacuum flange on a pipe, whilst maintaining containment. Two prototype tools, a Flange Bolting Tool and Containment Tool, have been designed by RACE engineers. At ...
National Nuclear User Facility for Hot Robotics
The National Nuclear User Facility for Hot Robotics (NNUF-HR) is an EPSRC funded programme. It assists UK academia and industry to deliver ground-breaking, impactful research into the use of robotics and AI in extreme environments, by providing opportunities to access cutting-edge equipment and expertise. The aim of the NNUF-HR is to support the UK ambition ...
ITER Robotics Test Facility videos available
The ITER Robotics Test Facility (IRTF), hosted at RACE, is a technical collaboration between ITER Organisation and UKAEA. The first Implementation Agreement (IA) was signed off in 2017 and there are now a number of completed, in progress and planned projects. Find out more with our new series of IRTF videos. IA1 GEPP mock-up This ...
The August RACE newsletter is now available
In this newsletter we look back at what RACE has been doing over the past months. It has been an interesting time and where possible work has continued as normal. All of the activities listed were carried out in line with the relevant Covid-19 guidelines. This newsletter includes: RACE puts Spot through its paces 8,000 ...
ITER Hot Cell Industry Event
The ITER Hot Cell is vital to the success of what will be the world’s largest fusion reactor. Fulfilling the requirements, when they are released, will take a collaborative effort from large organisations, specialist SMEs and research institutes. In October UKAEA are hosting an event on Zoom to discuss the issues that will need to ...
Visit RACE to see CorteX live
On 11th September RACE are offering the chance to see a live demonstration of CorteX at their facility in Culham, Oxfordshire. There will also be opportunities to discuss its future development, and potential for wider, non-fusion, applications, with RACE technical staff. CorteX is the robotics communication and control platform developed by RACE for remote operations ...
New ITER Robotics Test Facility project starts
RACE has received the equipment that will be used as part of the IRTF IA5 project. Slightly delayed due to the Covid-19 restrictions, IA5 will demonstrate the feasibility of using remote handling to manoeuvre a mock-up of the ITER Test Blanket Module. In future fusion reactors, blanket modules will be used to produce or ‘breed’ ...
