Five years down the line , after theFukushima nuclear exponent plant nuclear meltdown , and the halls of reactor 3 ’s building are still rack with radioactivity . Although clean - up efforts have already helped to check some radioactive material , the flora ’s manager still estimates there’sanother 30 to 40 yearsbefore a full decommissioning . So , to help oneself with the long process of making the plant secure , Toshiba has announced its latest automaton to absent reactor 3 ’s nuclear fuel rods , The Japan Timesreports .
The robot comprise of two arm and a“fuel grapple tool”that is up to of grip fuel rods and snipping up dust . It will also be equipped with legion live provender cameras , so it can be operate by remote control from a safe distance . The Japan Times also released a telecasting , below , point off the new nuclear bin man . Its job is to delve into the damage cooling pools to make and put away of the 566 used nuclear fuel rods .
remotion of the atomic fuel rodsis one of the most menacing and important parts of the clean up . Even after these radioactive rods are “ spent ” and pose into a cooling consortium , they can remain perilously radioactive for yard of years – especially if they ’re not decent cast away of .
In 2014 , the plant life do to throw away of 1,535 spent fuel rod forum from the cooling syndicate from reactor 4 . However , this was a relatively easy job , as the safe radiation stage present in the building meant technician could stand by the pool to supervise the operation .
Toshiba , the manufacturer of many home appliance and electronics , also manufactured two of the reactor at Fukushima . This is n’t the first piece of kit Toshiba has design to help the radioactive slam up , either . In 2014 , it produce afour - legged inspection botto supporter survey the plant ’s off - reach areas . In astatement , Toshiba sound out it will continue to train applied science that will help towards decommissioning the plant .
It ’s skip the robot will get to form by 2017 . After that , the plant plan to cover the pool in an attempt to carry the radiation .