"Gatling gun" robot to clean up Britain's Windscale nuclear accident site
By Nilay Patel 
posted October 16th 2007 2:56PM
posted October 16th 2007 2:56PM
Last week marked the 50th anniversary of the Windscale fire, the worst nuclear accident in British history, and it looks like regulators are gearing up to finish dismantling the site within the next 12 years -- beating estimates of a further 40 years. The plan centers around the use of a robot nicknamed the "Gatling gun" to remove 15 tons of damaged nuclear fuel rods from inside the Pile 1 building, which investigators weren't even able to enter until last year due to health concerns. The robot, which gets its name from its distinctive shape, won't be deployed until several other parts of the plant are decommissioned in about four years, but that's still far sooner than researchers previously thought cleanup was possible. If all goes well, the robot's developer, US-based SA Robotics, says the site will be a useable "brownfield" by 2030 -- but we'll stick to our "greenfields," thanks much.
"Brownfield" simply means land that has been built on before, personally I'd much rather it was used than "Greedfield" sites that would eat away into our quickly vanishing countryside.
Seriously, you might prefer a different (slightly less) brown field, but not a greenfield.
Plus theres all those vampires at the Renfield sites.
Yeah yeah yeah... but does it blend?
I thought this website was about gadgets, not nuclear cleanup equipment. Slow day?
but... ROBOTS! Big shiny robots! *points* It's even got MACHINE GUNS in it!.. well sort of..
How can you go wrong with robots AND machine guns?
You need to watch more transformers... and Gundam. Don't forget Gundam.
Seriously. We're going to have to take away your Otaku registration.
Mmmm.... robots....
Actually, as a nuclear supporter who lives only 15 miles or so from Three Mile island I had never heard of this particular accident and found the story of the Windscale accident quite fascinating.
Will Greenpeace open this sucker up and check for hazerdous componets?
The real question is, will California sue England for having hazardous materials in its country?
I don't like the idea of naming a robot "Gatling gun." Might give it bad ideas when it becomes self-aware ...
Number 5...Alive!
They had to bring in a gatling gun to get rid of all the radioactive monsters that started roaming the grounds with a thirst for English blood.
Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman.
And so forth, and so on...
I prefer Strawberry Fields. Forever
At least they're cleaning the site up, and ahead of time estimates too.
No reason to dis those efforts.
No reason at all.
The sooner I can get in there and start measuring earthworm growth, the better.
just watch out for giant, green, fire-breathing monsters when you do!
*in a justin timberlake-like voice*
"ah hear theyve got a gattlin' gun"