Overview
- TEPCO displayed the remote-operated arm at the Naraha Remote Technology Development Center and is conducting motion checks and operator training.
- On-site installation at Fukushima Daiichi is scheduled to begin in March, with inspection and limited retrieval targeted for summer to autumn 2026 if progress is smooth.
- The IRID-developed device measures about 22 meters and weighs roughly 4.6 tonnes, following multiple delays since an initial 2021 target due to technical issues and the pandemic.
- Interchangeable tooling includes a brush-type and a vacuum-type end-effector, with swappable tips for cameras, 3D sensors, and cutting tools to support internal surveys and obstacle removal.
- TEPCO plans only a single debris pickup in this phase with up to about 3 grams expected, after earlier ‘fishing-rod’ trials collected roughly 0.9 grams across two tests.