What is it about?
When nuclear fusion facilities reach the end of their life, they must be dismantled safely. This is a complex and hazardous process involving radiation exposure, toxic materials, confined spaces, and extremely heavy reactor components. This study explores how humans and robots work together to carry out these tasks. Drawing on interviews with experts involved in the decommissioning of the Joint European Torus (JET) and the development of remote handling systems for ITER, the research shows how teleoperated robots and advanced manipulators allow operators to dismantle reactor components from a safe distance.
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Why is it important?
Fusion energy is often presented as a clean and promising energy source. However, the safe dismantling of fusion reactors at the end of their life is rarely discussed. This research highlights the crucial role of human–robot collaboration in making decommissioning safer and more effective. It shows that successful robotic systems must be designed around the people who operate them, supporting human judgement, teamwork, and safe decision-making. These insights can help guide the design of future fusion facilities and ensure that safety and responsibility are built in from the start.
Perspectives
What struck me most during this research was how central human expertise remains, even in highly robotic environments. Decommissioning fusion facilities relies on advanced remote handling technologies, yet the operators’ judgement, experience, and teamwork are still critical to making these systems work safely. For me, this reinforces the importance of designing robotic systems that genuinely support the humans who use them, rather than assuming that automation alone will solve safety challenges.
Anne-Marie Oostveen
Cranfield University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: (Em)Powering the End of Power: HRI for Safe Nuclear Decommissioning, March 2026, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3757279.3788661.
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