Drones inspect UK fusion site under decommissioning in a global first

In a pioneering global first, drones were used to conduct aerial inspections at the Joint European Torus (JET) nuclear fusion facility in the UK as part of the JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR) programme. This collaborative effort involved the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo), UKAEA’s robotics division RACE, and energy company Eni with its engineering arm EniProgetti. The drone flights, conducted in October and November 2025, utilized a Flyability Elios 3 drone equipped with cameras, LiDAR, and radiation sensors, enclosed in a soft cage to safely navigate the complex and sensitive environment of the fusion site. Over 30 short flights were performed, overcoming challenges such as dust disturbance from drone propellers, which required additional safety protocols. JET, a tokamak fusion reactor operational since 1997 and known for record energy outputs, is now undergoing decommissioning and repurposing managed by UK