11 March 2025
At Assystem, we are proud to contribute to the Fusion project, an innovative initiative aimed at robotising interventions in irradiated environments. This project is carried out in collaboration with Conscience Robotics and CESI. It is a supported by France 2030 and the Normandy Region with funding provided by the iDemo programme, which aims to promote innovation in strategic technological fields.
The Fusion project paves the way for cutting-edge solutions to secure and optimize interventions in complex industrial environments, particularly in the nuclear sector. Robotization helps limit human exposure to radiation-related risks while ensuring efficient and precise operations.
Our Contributions to the Project
Assystem plays a key role in this project, particularly by contributing to the development of an advanced visual interface, one which links the human-machine interface (HMI) to the robotic application. This enables operators to monitor and control robots in real time within a complex environment.
Conscience Robotics has developed an integrated development environment for robotics, allowing for the intuitive design and deployment of universal robotic missions. Meanwhile, CESI has designed the interface between the virtual reality headset and the robot, ensuring intuitive and immersive control.
At the same time, Orano provides its state-of-the-art facilities for full-scale testing and validation of technical advancements.
A Successful Demonstration: January 2025
A major milestone was reached in early 2025 during a demonstration at the La Hague site, a complex industrial environment. This demonstration tested the robotic solution under conditions similar to those found in real nuclear sites. Key steps included:
- VR Immersion: The operator explores a digital twin of the intervention area.
- Remote Robot Control: Using Conscience Studio, the robot was remotely controlled, allowing for autonomous exploration of the area with real-time video feed visualisation.
- 3D Scanning: The robot performed a precise digital survey, collecting data for detailed analysis.
- Live Monitoring: All operations were monitored live on multiple screens, ensuring complete supervision of the actions.
This demonstration validated technological advancements in robotisation for maintenance and monitoring tasks in irradiated areas.
Next Steps in the Project
Following the success of this demonstration, the Fusion project continues to evolve with new key developments:
- Integration of a 360° camera for an even more comprehensive and immersive view of scanned environments.
- AI optimization to automate certain actions and enhance the autonomy of robots.
- Deployment of new robots, with a focus on user feedback for continuous improvement.
- Photorealistic reconstructions and autonomous mapping for even more precise simulations.
The project, which began a year ago, will continue for another three years, with the goal of achieving large-scale industrialisation. This industrialization will enable the deployment of these robotic solutions across numerous nuclear sites, transforming the way interventions are conducted in irradiated areas.
The Fusion project represents a major technological breakthrough for the nuclear industry. Thanks to the collaboration between Assystem, Conscience Robotics, CESI, and Orano, it opens new opportunities to enhance the safety of interventions while reducing workers’ exposure to risks.