Robot Teleoperation Design Requirements from End Users in Nuclear Facilities

Abstract

Despite the nuclear industry’s reliance on advanced robots being operated by humans, much of the existing research overlooks the operator’s perspective in the context of nuclear decommissioning. This study aims to address this gap by identifying the specific needs and requirements of robot operators in nuclear environments. Three focus groups of experienced robot operators from the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Sellafield Ltd. were conducted to explore key themes, including the operator’s role, tasks where robots are employed, and the risks associated with robot use. Findings reveal that: (1) robots in critical tasks are typically controlled by a team of operators; (2) for human-robot interfaces safety and reliability are the most important features, before effectiveness, intuitiveness and task focus; (3) due to high task variety operators see a need for various types of robots; and (4) operator error is regarded as the most significant and unpredictable risk. Based on these insights, a comprehensive set of 10 robot-specific requirements and 10 overall user requirements has been formulated. The paper provides recommendations for robot operators and designers, detailing how these identified requirements can inform the development of future teleoperated robots for nuclear decommissioning tasks.