A4 Refereed article in a conference publication

Low-Cost Rapid-Development Air-Ground Robotic Solution for Nuclear Power Plant Inspection




AuthorsTian, Changda; Arachchige, Sasanka Kuruppu; Li, Haichuan; García Cárdenas, Juan José; Raei, Hamidreza; Dincer, Enes; Kenan, Alperen; Bremner, Paul; Giuliani, Manuel; Neumann, Gerhard; Ajoudani, Arash; Tapus, Adriana; Westerlund, Tomi; Kämäräinen, Joni-Kristian; Figueredo, Luis; Watson, Simon; Trahanias, Panos

EditorsN/A

Conference nameIEEE International Symposium on Safety Security Rescue Robotics

Publication year2025

Book title 2025 IEEE International Symposium on Safety Security Rescue Robotics (SSRR)

First page 84

Last page89

ISBN979-8-3315-4527-7

eISBN979-8-3315-4526-0

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1109/SSRR68451.2025.11391258

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingNo Open Access

Publication channel's open availability No Open Access publication channel

Web address https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11391258


Abstract

This paper presents a practical, low-cost, and swiftly developed heterogeneous robotic system-comprising an aerial drone and a ground vehicle-designed for inspection and situational awareness in nuclear power plant (NPP) environments. Developed during the EnRicH 2025 competition in AKW Zwentendorf, our solution prioritized rapid prototyping using ROS2, off-the-shelf components, and open-source frameworks, achieving deployment within 3 weeks. We detail the design methodology: a 3D-printed airframe for the drone, an Ackermann-steering UGV, and a combined sensor suite composed of LiDAR, IMU, and radiation detection modules. Control and navigation algorithms were implemented using ROS2, leveraging SLAM and a hybrid autonomy paradigm to address GNSS denial inside containment structures. We also tackle communication challenges within shielded environments by integrating a modular mesh network and signal repeaters. Field trials in a real NPP demonstrated robust localization, reliable communication despite severe attenuation, and real-time radiation monitoring. Our contribution is a fully reproducible, low-cost air-ground inspection solution validated in a real NPP, together with a complete open-source release of mechanical designs, BOMs, firmware, and ROS2 software stacks.1


Funding information in the publication
This research work has received full funding from the European Commission’s HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Actions (MSCA) under Grant agreement No. 101072634, project RAICAM.


Last updated on 20/02/2026 07:08:40 AM