A dancing robot dog called SPOT stole the show at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) first robotics open event at Culham Science Centre. Held last month as part of the UK-wide Festival of Robotics, visitors were treated to a behind-the-scenes look inside UKAEA’s RACE (remote applications in challenging environments) where cutting-edge technology is being developed to help design and maintain future plants based on fusion energy — the process that powers the sun and stars and described as the ‘ultimate energy source that promises to provide safe, sustainable and low-carbon power for generations to come’.

Nick Sykes, head of operations for RACE at UKAEA, said: “The UK is leading the way in fusion energy, which we believe will be an environmentally responsible part of the world’s energy supply in the second half of this century. Robotics’ will play a key role in maintaining fusion powerplants, and it has been fantastic to showcase the robotics work taking place here at UKAEA and we hope to have inspired the next generation of robotics engineers.”

Visitors were able to see the use of artificial intelligence in fusion machines, the latest technology in robot handling, and test their own skills as the next generation of robot operators. Dave Baker, who travelled to Culham from Winchester, said: “The technology being shown at UKAEA is leading edge. It shows how far in front we are. It was both fascinating and interesting to see all the practical applications for the robots.”

Annie Turner, from Chinnor, added: “I didn’t know what to expect or what it would be like. It was extremely interesting, and I learned loads. The technology was inspirational, especially for children looking at future careers in engineering.”

The UK Festival of Robotics is an annual celebration hosted by the EPSRC UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems (UK-RAS) Network, which provides academic leadership in robotics and coordinates activities at over 30 partner universities across the UK. Further details about the RACE facility can be found at the website (www.race.ukaea.uk).