UK Atomic Energy Authority engineers trained MASCOT robots on how to maintain a fusion energy machine by having them simply play Jenga. These robotic systems are a very important part of putting fusion energy on the grid for the design and maintenance of future fusion powerplants, so the teams most certainly can’t afford them getting stuck.
Each of the MASCOT robots have two arms with grippers that can operate over 900 bespoke tools. They are deployed into JET – a replica training vessel – on the end of an articulated 12-metre boom, driven by UKAEA’s remote handing team from a control room equipped with live camera feeds as well as VR screens. Highly skilled operators then use the two robot arms to control each MASCOT as it performs tasks such as replacing tiles, welding, cutting and surveying to maintain UKAEA’s fusion energy machine. Speaking of arms, did you know that Microsoft created 3D-printed Halo prosthetic arms?
- Eye-catching black design, compact at 28 lbs, 220 lbs max load. Age: 16-50. Height: 3.11-6.6".
- High-performance battery: Dual 400W motors, 10 mph max speed, 13.7 miles per charge, 15° slope.
- Illuminating LED lights for visibility.
The second MASCOT is now in place to train our remote handling team in rescue tasks ensuring its twin can always be saved when working on the maintenance of JET, our machine where EUROfusion researchers set a sustained fusion energy record announced earlier this year,” said Gary Hermon, Remote Handling Lead Technologist at UKAEA.
