The Enrich robot competition at the Zwentendorf nuclear power plant has seen impressive achievements from participating teams. While there are no cash prizes to be won, the opportunity to test robotic systems in a real environment and collect data is highly valuable. The event, known as a “hackathon,” fosters a cooperative atmosphere of experience-sharing. Some teams, like the Tiers team from Turku, Finland, travelled long distances to participate. The Tiers team won first place in the “UAV Mapping” category after their flying robot successfully mapped the reactor core in autonomous flight.
Another team, flyby, also showcased an impressive performance despite not reaching the same heights. Their drone and radiation detector, both damaged in a crash, were repaired, allowing them to measure increasing radiation. The team received the “Best Young Team Award” for their efforts. The Capra team from Canada made the longest journey and successfully rescued a 33-kilogram dummy, simulating an injured person. The team faced challenges in attaching a hook to the dummy’s clothing but overcame them through practice. They were awarded the prize in the “Search & Rescue” category.
The focus of the competition is to advance the autonomous functions in robot systems. The Hector DRZ team excelled in this regard, using its wheel-driven robot, Scout, to autonomously explore rooms and identify radiation sources. The Telemax robot, manufactured by the Telerob company, worked alongside Scout to secure and examine these sources. While the Telemax robot was remote-controlled and couldn’t compete with other teams in map creation, it excelled in closing valves in radioactivity-measured pipes. The team won the “Manipulation” category.
The MSAS team from Poland impressed in the “3D mapping” category, creating highly detailed three-dimensional maps of the environment. The team leader, Janusz Będkowski, attributed their success to advancements in robot hardware. With 14 participating teams, this year’s Enrich competition reached its capacity within a four-day timeframe. To accommodate more teams in the future, organizers may need to extend the competition duration or introduce simultaneous competitions. There will be an upper limit on the number of participating teams, and late registrants will be placed on a waiting list.
