Robotic dogs will 'protect' Dounreay staff
'Spot' has the ability to climb stairs, avoid obstacles, and move over rough ground, allowing it to monitor and collect data in hazardous areas.
Last updated 8th Jun 2023
A pack of robotic dogs have arrived on site at Scotland's largest decommissioning project.
'Spot', a robotic quadruped dog, has the ability to climb stairs, avoid obstacles, and move over rough ground, allowing it to monitor and collect data in hazardous areas.
The robot will be used at Dounreay near Thurso, the former nuclear site which is currently being safely and securely cleaned up.
Dounreay and Createc, the systems integrator for Spot, are working together on a series of 7 use cases for the ROV, that will be carried out over the next 12 months.
A dedicated Createc employee will be based on site to initially lead the projects, and will train Dounreay staff to use the robot
Heather Fairweather is the innovation team’s project manager for the work.
She said: "We've had a lot of good feedback.
"There's a lot of people who have really bought into it, they're asking if we can show demonstrations to their teams.
"We've got a couple of operators in training, they're picking it up really well."
Heather also outlined whether it would replace any staff.
She added: "It's not to replace operators or anyone, it's a tool.
"We're using it to protect our workers where operators maybe can't go.
"Either confined spaces or because the radio-logical activities are too high."