The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has transferred to robot company Victex the technology behind Armstrong, its dual-arm robot which can move up to 200 kilograms. Victex aims to develop models targeting the nuclear decommissioning market. The terms of the technology transfer included KRW180m ($125,000) and 3% of sales revenue.
The transfer includes the manipulator that acts as the arm, the control system and remote control technology. It also includes five patents filed between 2016 and 2023 as well as blueprints, software and operating technologies. Victex plans to develop a decontamination robot platform by combining its radioactive waste hybrid decontamination technology with Armstrong’s robot technology.
A research team led by Jong-Won Park has been developing robots for nuclear disaster response and recovery work since 2015 and the Armstrong robot was deployed in 2024 for government-led disaster response training. A separate agreement with Korea Expressway Corporation was signed last year which aims to commercialise the robot technology for unmanned operation in high-risk environments such as highways.
The Armstrong robot has caterpillar tracks, allowing it to move in rough terrain and it can be equipped with a variety of tools enabling it to undertake complex movements.
“This technology transfer is an important case of cutting-edge robotics technology being applied to the nuclear power plant decommissioning field. We will continue to work to expand nuclear robotics technology to other industries,” said KAERI President Joo Han-kyu.
KAERI said Victex plans to combine its radioactive waste hybrid decontamination technology with Armstrong’s robot technology and develop robots for use at nuclear power plant dismantling sites, for tasks such as decontamination, cutting and transporting hazardous materials. KAERI said that although South Korea’s domestic nuclear power plant dismantling industry was just entering its early stages there was “great growth potential in the global market”.
