Small Unmanned Autonomous Surface Vehicle (USV)
Inspectors frequently use a small handheld optical instrument called the Improved Cerenkov Viewing Device (ICVD) to confirm the presence of spent fuel stored underwater. The IAEA would like to mount this device inside a small robotized floating platform, which would autonomously propel itself across the surface of the pond, while stabilizing the ICVD in a vertical position.
View more detailsSmall Unmanned Autonomous Ground Vehicle (UGV)
Inspectors conduct a routine task that includes counting containers, recording their ID tags and performing gamma measurements. The IAEA would like to identify small robotized rolling platforms able to assist the inspector by moving autonomously across a storage area, counting items of a specific geometry, recording their ID tags, and carrying specific IAEA instrument payloads.
View more details
Participants looking for further details will need to register on IAEA’s Challenge platform in order to be provided with full description of these tasks as well as with the templates and submission forms to submit the proposal.
Prize and Incentives
Compete for a prize of 5,000 EUR plus and win a trip to Australia for two persons per proposal to join the Demonstration Week.
UGV 2nd Prize: 3,500 EUR
UGV 1st Prize: 5,000 EUR
Win 5,000 EUR and two seats to Australia
Participants with the best technical proposals will receive funding to participate in the Demonstration Week, organized in Australia (attendance limited to two individuals per proposal).
The IAEA will allocate 20,000 EUR to support private entities or small businesses and will eventually facilitate access to alternative sources of funding for other categories of organizations.
Submit your proposal
Roadmap
The Challenge includes the 5 stages outlined below. Participants evaluated technically acceptable will be invited to provide a commercial proposal so that some units can be acquired by the IAEA.
About IAEA
The IAEA, or the International Atomic Energy Agency, is widely known as the world’s “Atoms for Peace” organization within the United Nations family. Set up in 1957 as the world’s centre for cooperation in the nuclear field, the IAEA works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
Year Founded
1957
Headquarters
Viena, Austria
Organization type
Government Agency
IAEA Technology Challenges
One of the roles of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to deter the proliferation of nuclear weapons. To do so, the IAEA applies various technical measures referred to as ‘safeguards’ to verify the correctness and the completeness of the declarations made by the Member States about their nuclear material and activities. The IAEA safeguards are an essential component of the international security system.
The Division of Technical and Scientific Services (SGTS) is responsible for providing scientific, technical and logistics support within the IAEA, including design, development, testing, calibration, installation and maintenance of safeguards equipment.
Within SGTS, essential objectives of the Technology Foresight activities are to identify and evaluate emerging technologies that improve the usability, effectiveness and efficiency of the instruments used in the field by inspectors, and to enhance the IAEA's capabilities to detect undeclared activities.
What are we doing
Conducting in-field inspections forms the core of the IAEA’s nuclear verification activities and equipping inspectors with the appropriate tools is the key to effective nuclear safeguards. Over hundred types of equipment are used by the IAEA inspectors to verify the form, isotopic composition and quantity of nuclear material.
IAEA Robotics Challenge
Submit your proposal to compete for a prize of 5,000 EUR and win a trip to Australia to join the Demonstration Week
