Japan put robots into nuclear power plants

Two remote-controlled robots are measuring radioactive concentrations in Japan's Fukushima I nuclear power plant.

An iRobot Packbot device is detecting a bomb. About 3,000 robots like these have been manufactured to work in hazardous environments. Photo: weston.org.

Engineers and workers in the Fukushima I power plant are still trying to control incidents in the reactors after cooling systems stopped working by the March 11 tsunami. Two robots - called iRobot Packbot - appeared in the factory from April 17. They now collect data on radiation and temperature levels in reactors No. 1 and 3, the BBC reports.

Equipped with cameras capable of direct image transmission, pairs of robots help engineers operate observing the scene inside the reactors in real time. They are capable of opening reactor-containing buildings.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) hopes the pair of robots will help them understand the entire situation inside the Fukushima I. Plant radiation levels in many areas inside the reactor-containing buildings have exceeded safety limits. for human health.

Mr. Takeshi Makigami, a spokesman for TEPCO, said the robot could only perform a few operations, not be able to replace it. So when the radioactivity level drops to the allowable level, the workers will have to return to the buildings.

TEPCO hopes they will reduce the amount of radiation released in three months and cool down the reactors for nine months.

In addition to the pair of robots, a remote control excavator and conveyor are also being used to clean up the rubble in the factory. An unmanned helicopter is used to record areas outside and above reactor-containing buildings.