Programmes
RACE is engineering the freedom to operate in challenging environments. Our focus is to develop the remote technologies required to achieve sustainable fusion energy. We work across multiple sectors, including fusion, nuclear decommissioning and international science projects to achieve this goal.
Robotics for fusion research
RACE develops, builds and operates robotics to support and maintain the Joint European Torus (JET).
RACE also hosts the ITER Robotics Test Facility, performing full-scale mock-up trials and feasibility studies. ITER is an international collaborative effort to build the world’s largest fusion machine, aiming to produce net energy gain across the plasma.
The future of fusion energy
The use of robotics in commercial fusion power will define how fusion powerplants are designed and built.
Minimising plant down-time is the strongest driver in keeping costs down, so an effective remote maintenance strategy is essential, as are the technologies to carry it out.
RACE currently focusses on two major fusion programmes: the UK’s STEP and the EU’s DEMO.
Handling radioactive material
20 years of designing remote operations for JET enables us to give unique and valuable insights into the challenges faced by current nuclear powerplants.
Two current programmes, LongOps and RAICo, are developing robotic hardware, software and training, to deliver safer and faster decommissioning in the UK and Japan.
For the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden, RACE is using specialist knowledge to lead the design and delivery of the Active Cells Facility. Here, highly irradiated components from the ESS spallation target will be manipulated, size-reduced and packaged for storage.
Digital tools and infrastructure
Digital tools greatly enable complex robotics remote operations, asset management, training and task planning – both in offline and live operations.
RACE has developed a suite of software for performing remote tasks using robotics in challenging environments.
These digital tools allow operators to:
- visualise complex robotics operations during planning and execution
- manage procedures and assets
- seamlessly integrate multiple pieces of robotic hardware and software.
Collaborative research projects
RACE has an extensive portfolio of grant-funded research in collaboration with international universities and industry suppliers.
Our growing research team seeks out the latest developments in robotics and autonomous systems and translates them to RACE’s fusion programme. Our R&D work spans the challenges outlined in the Robotic Challenges for Fusion Energy.
Find out more about RACE
What we do
RACE is the UKAEA’s centre for Remote Applications in Challenging Environments. We design, operate and deliver robotics for extreme industrial environments, working towards our goal: bringing fusion energy to the grid.
Collaborate
Delivering world-changing robotics and bringing fusion energy closer to reality through close collaborations with our partners.
Careers at RACE
UKAEA is a world leader in fusion energy.
We design, build and operate robotics for extreme industrial environments, working towards our goal: bringing fusion energy to the grid.
