GaViX - Fully Automatic Sorting Systems for nuclear waste

GaViX delivers an innovative, integrated solution to address the issue of sorting and setting apart components of radioactive waste quickly and effectively. The solution benefits from the advances in artificial intelligence and automated processes to detect and sort radioactive materials, in addition to X-ray and sensors technology, optimised to be very small sized and low cost, to significantly increase the spatial resolution and integration times.

Following a study of the Sellafield site and in-depth research and evaluation of user needs, a first step in the study will identify requirements and define a comprehensive approach, including an economic and financial assessment, project planning and risk assessment. A draft for validation and verification procedures and criteria of the experimental prototype follows.

The feasibility study phase will define a roadmap for developing and testing the prototype during Phase 2\.

In line with the NDA Grand Challenges for Technical Innovation, our proposal makes use of remote sensing techniques to allow smart and effective detection and sorting of radioactive waste, including multi-layer flexible packaging that was developed and designed specifically for radioactive low-level waste. The adoption of autonomous systems, sensors and robotics will permit safer methodologies and techniques for human operators, again meeting the Grand Challenges objectives.

The use of advanced technology and artificial intelligence will improve data collection and make data analysis easier.

AB5 Consulting, a London-based SME, is the project lead. AB5 has gathered a strong team of subcontracting experts of international renown, each one contributing specific knowledge coming from the research, nuclear, processing and packaging sectors.

The Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) provides the technology for the radiation detectors, as well as all the know-how about the context and domain of nuclear physics.

IRIS, hi-tech producer of advanced solutions, owner of patented AI algorithms and image processing techniques for food processing.

PacTec, industry leader for the design and manufacturing of certified flexible packaging solutions for low level radioactive wastes according to the requirements of IAEA regulations for the 'Safe Transport of Radioactive Material', SSR-6 and ADR.