Robots penetrate where humans cannot

The French Atomic Energy Commission, or CEA, has developed a range of remote controlled manipulators and mobile robots that is designed for inspection and intervention tasks in hostile environments, particularly those associated with nuclear power plants. This paper outlines the activities related to mobile robots, and highlights the need for varied mechanical concepts. Different locomotion principles are required, for example, for the inspection of the interior of a 100mm diameter pipe and for the movement of a 100kg payload up and down a stairwell.