ROBOTICS SCOPING STUDY TO EVALUATE ADVANCES IN ROBOTICS TECHNOLOGIES THATSUPPORT ENHANCED EFFICIENCIES FOR YUCCA MOUNTAIN REPOSITORY OPERATIONS

摘要

This paper presents an evaluation of robotics and remote handling technologies that have the potential to increasernthe efficiency of handling waste packages at the proposed Yucca Mountain High-Level Nuclear Waste Repository.rnIt is expected that increased efficiency will reduce the cost of operations. The goal of this work was to identifyrntechnologies for consideration as potential projects that the U.S. Department of Energy Office of CivilianrnRadioactive Waste Management, Office of Science and Technology International Programs, could support in thernnear future, and to assess their “payback” value. The evaluation took into account the robotics and remote handlingrncapabilities planned for incorporation into the current baseline design for the repository, for both surface andrnsubsurface operations. The evaluation, completed at the end of fiscal year 2004, identified where significantrnadvantages in operating efficiencies could accrue by implementing any given robotics technology or approach, andrnincluded a road map for a multiyear R&D program for improvements to remote handling technology that supportrnoperating enhancements.