Tokyo Electric Power Co. used two U.S.-made robots to examine the interior of reactors No. 1 and 3 of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, the company said April 17.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. used two U.S.-made robots to examine the interior of reactors No. 1 and 3 of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, the company said April 17.
The purpose of the examination was to measure the temperature, humidity and levels of radiation to ascertain whether an investigation team can safely enter the buildings.
The robots used in the examination were iRobot Corp.'s PackBots, which have been deployed by U.S. forces in conflict zones like Afghanistan to detect explosives. With an arm that can extend up to 1.8 meters, the robot opened a door in the turbine building to enter the reactor building.
The investigation began on the morning of April 17. The two robots, one of which took measurements while being monitored by the other, were remotely controlled by workers of TEPCO's affiliates, who were trained by an iRobot instructor.