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Possible Solution to Damaged Reactors — Parallax Forums

Possible Solution to Damaged Reactors

lardomlardom Posts: 1,659
edited 2011-03-27 22:13 in General Discussion
I believe robotics must be a necessary part of nuclear reactor maintainance. Gamma rays are far too dangerous for organic tissue. Everything requires some maintainance including containment vessels and cooling pumps. The following link points to a possible solution; Robotic CNC for Nuclear Reactor Repair
(I apologize if I've missed current discussions, I've been working diligently on a project.)

Comments

  • vaclav_salvaclav_sal Posts: 451
    edited 2011-03-25 08:35
    I was astonished when the numbers started coming in – 8.9 , 10 meters tsunami, 10000 dead etc.
    There was no question in my mind – this is a Disaster on a big scale

    And now the nuclear plant which was originally and quietly presented without ever mentioning how many reactors are on the site!

    Now I am puzzled with “entertainment media” prizing Japan's technological know – how.

    Really? What happened to ASIMO robot? Is it technological know – how or just a wiz-bang?

    You comment is right on the money – why is ASIMO not fixing anything?
    Vaclav
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2011-03-27 12:15
    ASIMO is a demonstration prototype, not a practical robot. They are moving practical robots in, but there is a staging delay mainly because TEPCO didn't ask for help until things were well and truly out of hand.
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-03-27 13:44
    localroger wrote: »
    TEPCO didn't ask for help until things were well and truly out of hand.
    This kind of behavior by the nuclear power industry is probably the major reason there are so many anti-nuke activists around. They try to deny or cover up problems until they reach such proportions that doing so becomes impossible. Then they wonder why the public does not trust them. Better to ask for assistance right away and provide an honest detailed explanation of what has happened.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2011-03-27 15:19
    After many years of working for corporations both large and small, I've noticed that senior managers do not like bad news. The bigger the organization, the greater the possibility they'll shoot the messenger. So directors and line level managers become trained to under report problems and hope that they can resolve them.

    My point is that this behavior isn't unique to nuclear power, but the higher stakes make the penalties for doing it much higher. Or as Douglas Adams would say "People are the problem."
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2011-03-27 15:56
    Martin_H wrote: »
    ...

    My point is that this behavior isn't unique to nuclear power, but the higher stakes make the penalties for doing it much higher. ...

    Yes, there's a reason nobody will insure against nuclear disasters. The insurance companies have crunched the numbers and read the tea leaves of common sense.
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited 2011-03-27 16:43
    The breaking news says there was another 6.5 Earthquake off of Japan and my concern is if another Tsunami spreads the radioactivity around.
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-03-27 17:28
    It is an interesting design challenge for robotics - it needs to be able to do things that we take for granted. Go up to a gate valve and open it (the valve is stiff so needs some elbow grease, ie a 'strong' robot). Maybe drag a fire hose into a building and twist it to turn it on. Carry a fire pump into the building, connect the hose, adjust the choke and pull the starter cord.

    All things that we would do very easily but can't because of the radiation.

    I read somewhere that the reason ASIMO is small is because people might feel threatened by a robot the same size as them (but stronger, and maybe more coordinated). Perhaps this will drive robotics research in a new direction?
  • vaclav_salvaclav_sal Posts: 451
    edited 2011-03-27 20:59
    Dr_Arcula,
    I have to disagree with you (what else is new?) but I recall "robotic arm" sold by Radio Shack(?) about 25 years(!) ago. It was crude but pretty articulate. I bet if scaled up it could manipulate 2.5 inch fire hose better that I did in my volunteer firefighter days!

    I think its non popularity was - it did not look like a robot!

    But you are right - ASIMO is definitely a threat because it runs software build by engineering committees supervised by bean counters!

    For reference – see A,Cooper “The inmates are running the asylum”.
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-03-27 22:13
    vaclav_sal wrote: »
    Dr_Arcula,

    But you are right - ASIMO is definitely a threat because it runs software build by engineering committees supervised by bean counters!

    For reference – see A,Cooper “The inmates are running the asylum”.

    Sadly, I think to an extent you can say the same about nuclear generating plants.
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