Improving Inspection Precision with High-Resolution Data

The integration of photogrammetry with ROV operations has allowed for a new level of inspection precision. Deep Trekker ROVs equipped with enhanced 4K UHD cameras capture a wealth of visual data, which is then processed to create accurate 3D models and orthomosaics. These detailed images allow inspection teams to assess asset integrity, detect even small cracks, and identify signs of material degradation such as corrosion.

The ability to measure wear accurately supports predictive maintenance programs, minimizing unplanned downtime and extending asset life. This approach delivers data quality that surpasses many traditional inspection methods, ensuring thorough assessments and proactive intervention when necessary.

Enhancing Nuclear Safety Through Remote Operation

ROVs contribute significantly to safety improvements by enabling inspections to be conducted remotely, particularly in high-radiation areas. This remote operation reduces the need for human entry into radioactive zones, minimizing radiation exposure and aligning with nuclear safety standards. Personnel can control and monitor ROVs from a secure distance, accessing real-time data on asset conditions without direct interaction. By lowering radiation exposure for maintenance staff, ROV-based inspections also comply with stringent industry regulations and improve overall plant safety protocols.

Data-Driven Asset Management with Digital Twins and Sonar Orthomosaics

3D models and sonar orthomosaics offer long-term benefits for nuclear asset management by providing a dynamic visualization of each asset’s current condition, making it easier to track changes over time and prioritize maintenance based on representative data. Sonar orthomosaics create a detailed, high-contrast 2D overview of complex surfaces, such as reactor vessel interiors, that can be compared over time to identify gradual deterioration.

These digital tools facilitate predictive maintenance, allowing for more targeted, cost-effective interventions that minimize operational disruptions and enhance asset longevity.

Key Inspection Applications: From Reactor Vessels to Piping Systems

Nuclear facilities consist of complex infrastructures, including:

• Reactor vessels
• Storage tanks
• Fuel pools
• Cooling towers
• Extensive piping networks

Each asset presents unique inspection challenges that demand specialized equipment and detailed imaging capabilities. Deep Trekker’s underwater ROVs, equipped with advanced photogrammetry capabilities, offer an effective solution for inspecting this varied infrastructure.

Designed for ease of use in confined and high-risk environments, these ROVs provide a comprehensive view of asset health, supporting short-term repairs and informing long-term maintenance strategies.

Reactor Pools

Reactor pools are critical, high-risk vessels that require regular inspection for any signs of structural degradation, such as cracking or corrosion. Due to high radiation levels and space constraints, manual inspections of reactor vessels are often unfeasible. Deep Trekker ROVs enable thorough evaluations of these vessels by capturing high-resolution images with an enhanced 4K UHD camera that can be converted into detailed 3D models. The ROV’s stability, enhanced by station-holding features, ensures that photogrammetry data is accurate and repeatable. This precision in data collection is essential for creating reliable digital twins that can be tracked over time to detect minute changes in vessel condition.

Storage Tanks and Fuel Pools

The containment and cooling of radioactive materials in storage tanks and fuel pools necessitate regular integrity checks. These structures are often situated in areas with high radiation, making Deep Trekker ROVs an ideal choice for remote inspection. The ROVs maneuverability and compact design allow operators to navigate these tanks with ease, inspecting for leaks, corrosion, and structural wear. Equipped with photogrammetry capabilities, the ROVs can generate 3D models that offer clear, high-contrast overviews of interior surfaces, enhancing the detection of subtle signs of wear or blockages that might otherwise be missed.

Cooling Towers

Cooling towers, essential for heat regulation in nuclear plants, are exposed to extreme operational conditions that accelerate material degradation. By deploying Deep Trekker ROVs, operators can assess cooling tower structures for erosion, algae growth, or cracking, which can compromise performance. The ROVs robust station-holding ability ensures stable data capture even in flowing water conditions, resulting in clearer photogrammetric models. These detailed models help identify and analyze areas requiring immediate intervention, thereby maintaining the cooling efficiency of the plant.

Confined Spaces and High-Risk Zones

Confined and high-risk zones in nuclear plants, such as reactor interiors and fuel rod storage areas, are not only challenging to access but also contain high levels of radiation. Deep Trekker ROVs remote operation capabilities allow inspection teams to safely monitor these areas from a distance, minimizing exposure and meeting strict radiation safety standards. The combination of the ROVs 4K UHD camera, sonar, and photogrammetry capabilities supports precise 3D reconstructions that capture fine details, which can then be analyzed to assess ongoing structural integrity.

Piping Systems

Piping networks transport essential fluids within a nuclear facility and are critical to operational safety. Deep Trekker ROVs can inspect these systems for corrosion, sediment buildup, and potential blockages that may disrupt flow and safety. The ROVs portability and maneuverability allow it to navigate narrow and complex piping configurations, providing 4K UHD visual data that supports accurate assessments. Photogrammetry software then transforms this data into 3D models, enabling inspection teams to measure degradation and pinpoint potential weak points with high precision. These models support proactive maintenance, allowing for targeted repairs before blockages or other issues escalate.

By utilizing features like portability, high maneuverability, 4K UHD imaging, sonar capabilities, station-holding, and stability, Deep Trekker ROVs enhance the photogrammetry process, producing reliable, high-quality data essential for comprehensive digital models. These models provide nuclear facility operators with a data-driven approach to maintenance, enabling proactive asset management across the plant’s critical infrastructure.

Real-World Impact and Results

The integration of ROVs equipped with photogrammetry into nuclear plant inspections has delivered tangible, measurable outcomes across maintenance and safety protocols. By generating high-resolution 3D models and sonar-based orthomosaics of critical components, maintenance teams gain the ability to perform highly detailed assessments, allowing them to pinpoint structural wear, material degradation, or obstructions before they escalate into costly or hazardous issues.

A notable and unique application of this technology is the planned cleanup of the basement at the Three Mile Island nuclear facility. Using ROVs equipped with photogrammetry, operators can simultaneously perform cleaning operations and capture detailed 3D models of the area.

This dual functionality ensures that the cleaning process is meticulously documented, creating benchmark visualizations of the space before and after the operation. The photogrammetric data provides an accurate, comparative record that aids in verifying the thoroughness of the cleanup while also identifying any previously obscured structural concerns.

This approach not only enhances the efficiency of the cleanup effort but also provides critical insights for long-term maintenance planning, ensuring the facility adheres to the highest safety and operational standards. By combining cleaning and inspection tasks, the project demonstrates the versatility and impact of integrating ROV technology into nuclear decommissioning and maintenance workflows.

Enhanced Precision and Early Issue Detection

The 3D models produced through photogrammetry allow inspection teams to detect microscopic cracks, corrosion, or blockages that may not be visible through traditional inspection methods. This level of precision enables facilities to address potential issues during scheduled maintenance windows rather than reacting to emergent failures. By identifying wear and degradation early, operators reduce the frequency of emergency shutdowns, thus minimizing downtime and preserving plant uptime and operational continuity.

Reduced Downtime and Maintenance Costs

With high-resolution photogrammetry data, maintenance teams can adopt a more predictive approach to equipment management, repairing only those components that show measurable signs of deterioration. This targeted approach not only extends the life of plant assets but also reduces maintenance costs by eliminating unnecessary inspections or repairs. Over time, facilities using ROV technology have reported shorter maintenance cycles and lower costs associated with unplanned outages, as early detection facilitates timely, scheduled interventions.

Remote Operation and Improved Radiation Safety

One of the most significant benefits of ROVs in nuclear environments is the capacity for remote inspections. Operating ROVs remotely in high-radiation areas minimizes human exposure, helping facilities meet stringent radiation safety regulations and reducing health risks to personnel. In addition to lowering radiation dose exposure, remote operation also reduces the need for extensive decontamination protocols required when personnel enter these zones. This shift to remote inspection not only protects the workforce but also cuts costs related to personal protective equipment (PPE) and radiation monitoring.

Deep Trekker’s BRIDGE Box enhances remote operation capabilities by serving as a portable control station, allowing operators to pilot ROVs from a safe distance. With seamless connectivity and robust communication links, the BRIDGE Box ensures uninterrupted control even in high-radiation environments or areas with limited accessibility. This flexible solution improves safety while enabling efficient, real-time data collection without requiring direct human presence in hazardous zones.

Accelerated Maintenance Schedules

Remote ROV inspections streamline maintenance processes, as they eliminate the need for lengthy preparations associated with human entry, such as outfitting, radiation checks, and physical containment setups. With Deep Trekker ROVs, which are designed for portability and quick deployment, operators can inspect multiple plant areas within a shorter timeframe, allowing for faster turnaround and less disruption to plant operations. This efficiency enables plants to carry out more frequent inspections, supporting continuous condition monitoring and reducing long-term degradation of critical assets.

Long-Term Asset Management and Reliability

The 3D models and sonar orthomosaics generated by ROVs are not only valuable for immediate inspection but also serve as a baseline for ongoing asset management. Digital twins created from photogrammetry data provide a comprehensive, visual record of asset conditions over time. These digital archives enable facilities to track changes in structural integrity, identify degradation trends, and optimize maintenance schedules based on real-time data. Over the long term, this data-driven approach to asset management contributes to increased plant reliability, improved lifecycle management, and ultimately, enhanced safety for both the plant and surrounding communities.

The proven impact of ROVs in nuclear plant inspections reflects a shift toward more proactive, cost-effective, and safe inspection practices, addressing both operational demands and stringent safety standards in the nuclear industry.

Measurable Advancements in Nuclear Plant Inspection

The combined use of ROV technology and photogrammetry is redefining nuclear plant inspection protocols, offering precision and safety enhancements far beyond those of conventional methods.

Through high-resolution imaging and digital 3D models of essential assets, these technologies enable accurate, detailed assessments and support proactive, data-driven maintenance strategies. By minimizing personnel exposure and optimizing asset monitoring, ROVs contribute to both improved operational continuity and strengthened safety standards, making them a valuable asset for the long-term reliability and sustainability of nuclear facilities.

Expert Guidance and Custom Solutions

Nuclear plant inspections present unique challenges, including radiation exposure, confined spaces, and the need for precise, repeatable assessments. Our team of experts specializes in integrating Deep Trekker ROVs to address these challenges, providing a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional inspection methods. Whether it's conducting visual inspections of reactor cavities, assessing pipe integrity, monitoring fuel pools, or inspecting heat exchangers, our portable and rugged ROVs eliminate the need for costly dewatering, scaffolding, and extended outages. We work closely with nuclear facilities to deliver customized solutions that improve safety, reduce downtime, and enhance inspection accuracy.

Secure Your Deep Trekker ROV Today

When you're ready to add your very own Deep Trekker vehicle to your toolkit, contact us and we'll be happy to provide you with a customized quote tailored precisely to your requirements. Incorporating Deep Trekker ROVs into your underwater operations ensures unmatched safety, efficiency, and success.