ARC’s Applied Robotics and Remote Systems Lab

Capabilities and Research Areas

Pneumatic pipe crawler

Our mission is to develop robotic systems to facilitate the safe environmental remediation of the Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of Environmental Management contaminated facilities across the DOE complex. The lab’s research and development (R&D) activities concentrate on robotic inspection, surveying, decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) by implementing the latest technology.

• Robotic inspection

  • 

    Magnetic mini rover

    Development of inspection tools and delivery systems

  • Sensor integration
  • Evaluation of robotic systems
  • Non-destructive test techniques

• Robotic sampling and surveying

  • Development of field robotic systems for surveying, sampling and sensor deployment
  • Underwater remote systems
  • Drones, unmanned and autonomous vehicles
  • Vision based guidance

• Robotic decontamination and decommissioning (D&D)

  • Remove application of fixative coatings
  • Radiation mapping
  • Manipulator design
  • Computer vision
  • Virtual reality

The College of Engineering and Computing welcomed over 1,600 K-12 students to its annual Engineering Expo. The event introduces students to STEM and sparks an interest in them to pursue engineering careers.

Collaborators

• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
• Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
• Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL)
• University of Texas at Austin (UT)
• University of Florida (UF)
• Washington River Protection Solution (WRPS)

Infrastructure

• Dedicated machine shop
• 3D printing lab
• Hot cell test beds
• Sectional full scale double shell tank mockup

Publications

1. McDaniel, S. Gokaltun, A. Awwad, R. Srivastava, D. Roelant and J. Varona, “Qualification of Innovative Waste Pipeline Unplugging Technologies”, Proceedings of the Waste Management Symposia 2008, Phoenix, AZ, February 2008.
2. Varona, A. Awwad, D. McDaniel, D. Roelant, J. Crespo, R. Rosales, “Remote Monitors for High Level Waste (HLW)”, Proceedings of the Waste Management Symposia 2010, Phoenix, AZ, March 2010.
3. Gokaltun, T. Pribanic, J. Varona, D. McDaniel, A. Awwad and D. Roelant, “Evaluation and Development of Innovative High-Level Waste Pipeline Unplugging Technologies”, Proceedings of the Waste Management Symposia, Phoenix, AZ, March 2010.
4. Pribanic, A. Awwad, J. Crespo, D. McDaniel, J. Varona, S. Gokaltun and D. Roelant, “Design Improvements and Analysis of Innovative High-Level Waste Pipeline Unplugging Technologies”, Proceedings of the Waste Management Symposia 2012, Phoenix, AZ, February 2012.
5. Pribanic, A. Awwad, J. Varona, D. McDaniel, S.Gokaltun and J. Crespo, “Design Optimization of Innovative High-Level Waste Pipeline Unplugging Technologies”, Proceedings of the Waste Management Symposia 2013, Phoenix, AZ, February 24-28, 2013.
6. Awwad, T. Pribanic, J. Crespo, D. McDaniel and S. Gokaltun, “Experimental Testing of Innovative High Level Waste Pipeline Unplugging Technologies (14601)”, Proceedings of the Waste Management Symposia 2014, Phoenix, AZ, March 2014.
7. McDaniel, J. Arniella, B. Castillo, D. Washenfelder and J. Engeman, “Analysis of Erosion/Corrosion Data for High-Level Waste Pipelines at Hanford, “Proceedings of the Waste Management Symposia 2015, Phoenix, AZ, March, 15-19, 2015.
8. Sheffield, D. McDaniel, S. Tosunoglu, “Development of a Prototype Miniature Motorized Inspection Tool for Hanford DOE Site Tank Bottoms”, 2015 Florida Conference on Recent Advances in Robotics, Melbourne, Florida, May 14-15, 2015.
9. Abrahao, H. Fekrmandi, E. Gocke, R. Sheffield, and D. McDaniel, “Development of Inspection Tools for the AY-102 Double-Shell Tank at the Hanford DOE Site”, Proceedings of the Waste Management Symposia 2016, Phoenix, AZ, March, 6-10, 2016.
10. Fekrmandi, R. Sheffield, D. McDaniel, “Validation of the Miniature Inspection Tool for the AY-102 Double-Shell Tank at the Hanford DOE Site“, Florida Conference on Recent Advances in Robotics, Miami, FL, May 12-13, 2016.
11. Abrahao, S. Zalongo, G. Yllanes, J.Viera, L. Lagos, D. McDaniel, “Remotely Operated Multi-Tracked Robot for Visual Inspection in D&D Activities”, Florida Conference on Recent Advances in Robotics, Miami, FL, May 12-13, 2016.
12. Abrahao, E. Gokce and D. McDaniel, “Development of a Peristaltic Crawler for the Inspection of the High Level Waste Tanks at Hanford,” ANS Decommissioning and Remote Systems 2016 Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, July 31- August 4, 2016.
13. Aravelli, D. McDaniel, A. Abrahao, A. Awwad, C. Davila, “Thermal Measurement and Modeling of Nuclear Waste in the Double Shell Tanks at Hanford Nuclear Waste Site Using Miniature Sensors,” International Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging Society 2016, Pasadena, CA, October 11-13, 2016.

Featured Projects

• Development of robotic inspection tools for double shell tanks
• Potential robotic applications in support of decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) activities
• Mobile manipulation and survey system for H-Canyon and other applications across the DOE complex

Photos

Pneumatic pipe crawle

Pneumatic pipe crawle

Magnetic mini rover