How Europe’s largest nuclear site replaced their drone fleet through in-depth trialling of the latest available drones
The Challenge
With Sellafield's current inspection fleet due to go out-of-service, Sellafield required support in making an informed decision to select and procure the most suitable UAS that can provide equal or improved performance to their current fleet.
Sellafield's UAS team faced a twofold challenge. Firstly, their existing inspection fleet was becoming obsolete, hindering their ability carry out efficient inspections and actively obtain spare parts and maintain the existing system. Secondly, Sellafield face inherent uncertainty regarding the optimal system to meet the needs of operating on a highly complex and safety focused nuclear site.
“Ajuno’s strong understanding of the latest drone technology and commitment to independent analysis streamlined our trials process. As a result we procured the right system to meet the complex requirements of the Sellafield site.”
Amanda Smith - UAV Programme Lead, Sellafield.
The solution
To address the challenge at hand, we used an agile-systems approach to ensure Sellafield's goals were continuously achieved.
The first step involved capturing specific requirements for Sellafield's UAS system. This entailed an in-depth analysis of the complex requirements for operating a drone on a nuclear site and the desired outcomes from a new system. With a clear understanding of the requirements, a comprehensive assessment of available options was conducted. This involved a thorough assessment of over 120+ systems against Sellafield's requirements.
Following the options assessment, a down selected list of top systems was established which were taken to manufacturer engagement sessions and drone trials. These provided a hands-on experience for Sellafield's UAS pilots, enabling them to better understand the performance of the down-selected drone systems in flight. The trials provided valuable insights into the drones' capabilities, which could not be achieved through a purely desk-based assessment of the systems.
The impact
The Sellafield UAS team gained critical confidence in adopting the most suitable systems for their needs.
Importantly, the thorough evaluation and hands-on-trial enabled Sellafield to avoid the cost of procuring the wrong system.
The new system will enable the team to continue their highly valuable work, maintaining our nuclear legacy by operating the latest technologies on their complex site.
“The trials Ajuno facilitated were a great success, giving us pilots a hands on experience of the latest technology to determine the best system to replace our existing fleet.”
Adrian Johnson - UAV Engineer and Pilot, Sellafield
