Robot dog to sniff out radiation at Spain’s defunct nuclear facility

A Boston Dynamics Spot robot dog is being customized to assist in the decommissioning of Spain’s Santa María de Garoña nuclear power plant, which has been shut down since 2012 and is undergoing a decade-long dismantling process managed by Spain’s radioactive waste agency, Enresa. The quadruped robot will be equipped with a high-precision robotic arm and advanced spectrometry tools to autonomously characterize materials, walls, and floors, providing real-time radioactive and structural data analysis. This system will be remotely operated via a cloud-based platform, reducing human exposure to hazardous environments while enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the cleanup. The project, led by Grupo Dominguis Energy Services (GDES) and technology firm Alisys, includes the robot’s design, testing, commissioning, and training of Enresa personnel who will manage it on-site. The robot’s deployment aims to optimize identification of non-contaminated areas and improve the measurement and characterization of radioactive waste destined for disposal, reinforcing safety