CASE STUDY: AVEXIS
The AVEXIS is a low-cost, small,
submersible robotic platform that
was initially designed for use in the
Sellafield Legacy Ponds. A tele-operated
device that could be passed through a
150mm (6") access port to characterise
hazardous unknown environments
was required.
The AVEXIS has been custom built
to fit through access portals to
nuclear storage tanks, and offers full
manoeuvrability. Sensor and localisation
payload is easily adapted to the
requirements of the site tested.
Working with the JAEA, the AVEXIS has
been deployed at the Nahara test facility
in Fukushima Daiichi. Here, sonar and
a vision based localisation system were
integrated to create a 3D map of the
reactor. During the RAIN project, the
AVEXIS has been radiation tested in the
JSI test reactor in Slovenia using gamma
and neutron sensors.
The AVEXIS is the only submersible ROV
to have been tested in a high level mixed
radiation field that is comparable to
Fukishima Daiichi. RAIN researchers are
continuing to work with the AVEXIS with
a view to it being commonly deployed in
the nuclear industry.
11
