Examples of robots and teleoperators at the Savannah River Site

The Shielded Cells Waste Handling Robot and the Shielded Cells Sample Handling Robot, which have significantly reduced radiation exposure, are described. The Shielded Cells Waste Handling Robot has been in operation for over four years. It removes cans of radioactive wastes from the shielded cells, seals the can in a plastic bag, and places the cans in a waste drum. The Shielded Cells Sample Handling Robot has been in operation for only a few months. It opens a door to one of the shielded cells, removes a radioactive sample from a shielded container, places it in the cell, and closes the door. Mobile teleoperators have significantly reduced radiation exposure in the removal of a contaminated junction box, and lead removal from radioactive vessels. In the first case, radioactive liquid had leaked into an obsolete junction box. This caused the box to be internally contaminated to a level of 200 rem/h at the surface. A mobile teleoperator was used to remove the box. In the second case, deionizer vessels must have the lead counterweights removed before the vessels can be properly buried. Radiation levels at the surface of these vessels measure as much as 5 rem/h. A mobile teleoperator was used to remove the lead counterweights from several of these vessels.< >