Russian company Intechros, based in Voronezh, has created a unique robot ROIN R700M capable of working in areas with very high levels of radiation of more than 60 Gray per hour (a thousand times the dose acceptable for humans).
The machine remotely removes rubble, carries dangerous debris and cleans up areas after accidents at NPPs or nuclear facilities. It can be controlled from a distance of 5 km, and eight cameras give the operator an all-round view even in complete darkness.
The key feature of the robot is radiation protection. All electronics are hidden behind lead screens and special composite panels that absorb radiation. Sensors constantly monitor the radiation level, and if it becomes critical, the machine automatically retreats to a safe distance.
To work in areas with high interference, the robot uses a 2.5 km long fibre-optic cable that winds itself when moving. This ensures stable communication even where radio control is useless. The powerful telescopic boom extends 8.5 metres and lifts 1.5 tonnes of cargo, such as fragments of destroyed reactors or containers with radioactive waste.
Tests at the Novovoronezh NPP have confirmed that the ROIN R700M copes with tasks where a person simply cannot survive. In the future, INTECHROS plans to enhance the robot’s autonomy and add artificial intelligence to it for independent decision-making in emergency situations.
