Autonomous Pit Exploration System (APES)


Overview
This consists of four primary components: a robotic platform developed by INL to deploy payloads into the tanks through small diameter pre-existing risers, a robotic arm developed by Florida International University (FIU) for the purposes of deploying a variety of payloads into the tank pit environment, a small robotic COTS crawler platform, and finally a digital twin system produced by INL that will develop predictions using sensor and I&C data collected as part of the robotic operations. The development of this system will enable demonstration of an effective system consisting of robotics, AI/ML and digital twin technology that enables inspection and predictions on tank degradation without direct inspection. The eventual goal is to use the digital twin predictions to extrapolate a holistic understanding of tank pit health at the Hanford Site.
Tags
  • Hanford
  • Digital Twin

Developed by

Idaho National Laboratory (INL, INEEL)
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Ian Seed
Author: Ian Seed
Created: 2026-01-15 Modified: 2026-01-15
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