Segwayste

Our approach integrates state-of-the-art technology, combined with partners who have long-standing practical experience of nuclear waste sorting and segregation. We will utilise this experience combining cutting-edge artificial intelligence, robotics and data science, drawn from space, defence, medical and industrial technologies, to provide a modular, streamlined, safety-orientated solution that will address the waste sorting and segregation challenge. Our experience in the pragmatic integration of complex technology will generate a step-change in sorting and segregation of intermediate and low-level waste with a focus on recycling.

Our solution fully meets the scope of the competition, and is demonstrably safer, faster and cheaper as follows:

a) Adopts a nuclear-centred integration approach that innovates a new modular control and automation strategy that can be proven and validated within the nuclear environment (faster, cheaper)

b) Draws on cross-sector innovations, and uses a pioneering approach to reliability and fault recovery (safer, faster, cheaper)

c) Removes the need for human interaction with nuclear waste (safer)

d) Adopts an in-situ waste characterisation strategy removing the need of ex-situ laboratory analysis, building on existing development already being trialled on the Sellafield site (safer, faster, cheaper)

e) Delivers a 'live' decision tool that uses data from holistically captured information to route waste based on risk analysis (safer, faster, cheaper)

f) Adopts a philosophy of feedstock as waste, focusing on the material, contamination classifications and potential for recycling rather than its original purpose (cheaper, faster)

g) Applies automation to the process where this adds most value, i.e. the parts of the process with significant manual off-line effort (faster, cheaper)

h) Focuses on development of innovative modular waste handling and processing tools, which characterise, sort and segregate waste, using a repeatable, scalable and transferable process (faster, cheaper)

This project will be led by Jacobs and a carefully selected consortium of partners: PA Consulting, Applied Photonics Ltd, V7, The Shadow Robot Company, Industrial 3D Robotics, University of Manchester, University of Bristol and Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE). Jacobs will act as lead integrator of the technical systems to ensure successful delivery of a turnkey solution.