Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > A Low-Cost and Semi-Autonomous Robotic Scanning...

Electronic data

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

A Low-Cost and Semi-Autonomous Robotic Scanning System for Characterising Radiological Waste

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
Article number119
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>2/11/2021
<mark>Journal</mark>Robotics
Issue number4
Volume10
Number of pages22
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

A novel, semi-autonomous radiological scanning system for inspecting irregularly shaped and radiologically uncharacterised objects in various orientations is presented. The system utilises relatively low cost, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic components, and is intended for use within relatively low to medium radioactive dose environments. To illustrate the generic concepts, the combination of a low-cost COTS vision system, a six DoF manipulator and a gam-ma radiation spectrometer are investigated. Three modes of vision have been developed, al-lowing a remote operator to choose the most appropriate algorithm for the task. The robot arm subsequently scans autonomously across the selected object, determines the scan positions and enables the generation of radiological spectra using the gamma spectrometer. These data inform the operator of any likely radioisotopes present, where in the object they are located and thus whether the object should be treated as LLW, ILW or HLW.