Teleoperation and nuclear services advantages of computerized operator-assistance tools Original Research Article

From the beginnings of the French nuclear energy program, Framatome has developed a considerable current of activities in the nuclear services field, and in the process has acquired extensive experience in using special maintenance tools and equipment on nuclear power plant (NPP) sites, for performing nuclear services in radioactive environments. Over the years, these tools and equipment have made greater and greater use of robotics, to ensure that higher and higher requirements for reliability, cost, and schedule could be met. Framatome has benefited from this nuclear services experience on the occasion of its first jobs in the dismantling field. Moreover, this experience has made it possible to determine the paths to progress as concerns work in hostile environments and to define the technical development themes to follow.