AtkinsRéalis, Sellafield Ltd and Igloo Vision develop immersive environment to accelerate nuclear decommissioning

AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear company, has helped deliver a new immersive environment at the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo1) facility in West Cumbria, giving nuclear specialists a powerful way to plan and deliver decommissioning work more safely.

Developed in partnership with Sellafield Ltd and immersive technology specialist Igloo Vision, the facility brings together remotely operated robotics systems and data visualisation in a single interactive space. It is expected to reduce time spent in hazardous environments by up to 40%, using robotics and live data streaming to enable remote operations and monitoring.

The new Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo1) facility in West Cumbria (image courtesy of Sellafield Ltd)

Designed to accommodate up to 10 users, the 360-degree visual environment allows engineers, operators and project teams to step inside digital versions of facilities and operational scenarios before work begins on site.

A team planning work in a restricted area can walk the route virtually, with live imagery from robotic platforms on site displayed as conditions change.

The facility also provides a dedicated space for collaborative operations planning, enabling multidisciplinary teams to test approaches and respond quickly to emerging issues.

The immersive environment forms part of Sellafield Ltd's wider strategy to combine robotics, artificial intelligence, modelling capabilities and advanced visualisation technologies to transform how nuclear decommissioning is planned, rehearsed and delivered. 

The project builds on expertise gained through AtkinsRéalis’ Lava Lab network and the delivery of Sellafield Ltd’s immersive facility at Hinton House in Risley, Cheshire, applying proven immersive technologies to support safer and more efficient decommissioning projects.

AtkinsRéalis played a key role in integrating Igloo Vision’s immersive platform with Sellafield Ltd’s digital information and operational requirements, creating a practical tool for planning, training and decision-making. Early engagement between the project partners ensured the design met operational needs while allowing flexibility for future expansion and innovation.

Richard Brook, Digital Solutions Lead for Nuclear at AtkinsRéalis, said: "Decommissioning some of the UK's most complex nuclear facilities requires teams to make critical decisions efficiently and safely.

"This new capability gives nuclear and engineering experts a completely different way to engage with information. Teams can better visualise challenges and work through solutions together before activities begin on site.

"What's particularly innovative is the way we're bringing immersive technology and robotics together in one place. That's creating new opportunities to reduce risk, improve efficiency and help accelerate the delivery of decommissioning programmes."

The new Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo1) facility in West Cumbria (image courtesy of Sellafield Ltd)

Rav Chunilal, Head of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at Sellafield Ltd, said: "What excites me most is not the technology itself, but the opportunity to fundamentally change how we tackle some of the most complex challenges in nuclear decommissioning. We've spent the last few years building capability across robotics, AI, digital twins and remote operations, and this is another important step on that journey. By allowing our people to explore, test and understand complex environments before work begins, we're creating a safer, smarter and more connected way of working.

“The Immersion Room at Hinton House in Cheshire is already demonstrating the value of immersive environments, bringing together and enabling teams to collaborate on simulation models of our nuclear facilities. With RAICo1 now providing a dedicated environment for innovation, development and demonstration, and a further immersive capability being developed on the Sellafield site itself, we're creating a connected ecosystem that links innovation and operational planning to frontline delivery.

“More importantly, this reflects a broader shift in how high-hazard industries can operate in the future. The real value comes from bringing together immersive environments, live operational data, robotics and intelligent systems to create a richer understanding of complex challenges. As these technologies converge, we move away from reacting to problems in the field to anticipating and rehearsing how to solve them virtually before work begins.

“That means less time spent in hazardous areas, greater collaboration between our experts regardless of location, and faster, more informed decision-making. Ultimately, innovation should be measured not by the technology we deploy, but by the impact it has on our people, the risks we remove and our ability to deliver our mission more safely and efficiently."

Kerry Head, CEO at Igloo Vision, said: "The RAICo1 facility demonstrates the real-world value of immersive technology in some of the most complex and safety-critical environments. By bringing data, robotics and 360-degree visualisation together in one shared space, teams can explore operational scenarios, understand challenges more clearly and make better-informed decisions before work begins on site.

“For Igloo Vision, this is exactly where immersive environments can make a meaningful difference, helping expert teams collaborate more effectively, reduce time spent in hazardous settings and support safer, more efficient delivery across nuclear decommissioning programmes.”

Supporting Sellafield Ltd’s mission to reduce risk and accelerate clean-up, the new facility demonstrates how immersive technology and robotics can transform how decommissioning programmes are planned and delivered, while helping shape the future of nuclear operations.

About AtkinsRéalis  

Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital advisory services. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services and Nuclear, as steward of CANDU® nuclear technology. News and information are available at www.atkinsrealis.com or follow us on LinkedIn.