Disclosed herein is an articulated manipulator capable of moving a tool such as an inspection device, a processing device, or a welding device to a desired position for inspection or repair of a defect portion in a limited place. The articulated manipulator includes a base plate, a movable unit slidably coupled on the base plate, a rotatable unit rotatably coupled on the movable unit, and a rotation unit rotatably coupled to one side of the rotatable unit.

The method includes installing a system for inspecting the core shroud on the core shroud, driving the system horizontally around the core shroud, and using a sensor of the system to inspect the core shroud, where the system includes a trolley, an arm, a tether, and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for inspecting the core shroud. The ROV includes a body configured to be operatively connected to the tether, and the sensor is configured to be operatively connected to the body, and configured to provide inspection information of the core shroud. The arm is configured to be operatively connected to the trolley. The ROV is configured to be operatively connected to the arm via the tether, and the tether is configured to provide vertical position information for the ROV relative to the outer surface of the core shroud.

The method includes installing a system for inspecting the core shroud on the core shroud, driving the system horizontally around the core shroud, and using a sensor of the system to inspect the core shroud, where the system includes a trolley, an arm, a tether, and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for inspecting the core shroud. The ROV includes a body configured to be operatively connected to the tether, and the sensor is configured to be operatively connected to the body, and configured to provide inspection information of the core shroud. The arm is configured to be operatively connected to the trolley. The ROV is configured to be operatively connected to the arm via the tether, and the tether is configured to provide vertical position information for the ROV relative to the outer surface of the core shroud.

There is provided an inspection device for inspecting an inner surface of a nozzle provided in a reactor vessel. The inspection device includes: a device frame, an inspection unit provided on the device frame, an inspection unit push-out moving mechanism for pushing out and moving the inspection unit to the inner surface of the nozzle, a rotation moving mechanism for rotating and moving the inspection unit, a calibration test unit arranged on the device frame for calibrating the inspection unit; and a calibration test unit forward/backward moving mechanism for moving the calibration test unit forward or backward in the direction along the central axis with regard to a track where the inspection unit makes push-out movement.

There is provided an inspection device for inspecting an inner surface of a nozzle provided in a reactor vessel. The inspection device includes: a device frame, an inspection unit provided on the device frame, an inspection unit push-out moving mechanism for pushing out and moving the inspection unit to the inner surface of the nozzle, a rotation moving mechanism for rotating and moving the inspection unit, a calibration test unit arranged on the device frame for calibrating the inspection unit; and a calibration test unit forward/backward moving mechanism for moving the calibration test unit forward or backward in the direction along the central axis with regard to a track where the inspection unit makes push-out movement.

A nuclear plant manipulator system, including a manipulator with an image acquisition device and a remotely-controlled drive, wherein the image acquisition device is configured to capture image data, a remote-operating device is configured to remotely control the manipulator, an object counter is configured to be incremented or decremented, and an analysis device is configured to receive the image data captured by the image acquisition device and evaluate the received image data. The analysis device is configured to automatically identify respective known objects that are found along a path while the manipulator moves along the path. When a respective known object along the path is passed by the manipulator, the object counter is incremented or decremented depending on the direction of the manipulator along the path. A current value of the object counter is provided to the remote-operating device.

A nuclear plant manipulator system, including a manipulator with an image acquisition device and a remotely-controlled drive, wherein the image acquisition device is configured to capture image data, a remote-operating device is configured to remotely control the manipulator, an object counter is configured to be incremented or decremented, and an analysis device is configured to receive the image data captured by the image acquisition device and evaluate the received image data. The analysis device is configured to automatically identify respective known objects that are found along a path while the manipulator moves along the path. When a respective known object along the path is passed by the manipulator, the object counter is incremented or decremented depending on the direction of the manipulator along the path. A current value of the object counter is provided to the remote-operating device.

Systems are provided for inspection and tooling submerged in nuclear reactors. Systems mount at the reactor edge, such as on a steam dam, to be independently operable from a refueling bridge or refueling operations. A moveable steam dam clamp may hold a position apparatus at the edge. The positioning apparatus includes a rotatable shoulder and arms move a tool, reactor component, and/or inspection device like a camera or VARD to desired and highly-determinable reactor positions. A float may counter shear and rotation on the shoulder from the arms. Motors at the shoulder with internal transmissions may rotate the shoulder and arms, or manual rotation may be used. The arms may also overlap vertically for installation and removal. Power, controls, and/or data may be provided underwater through an umbilical connection to operators.

Systems are provided for inspection and tooling submerged in nuclear reactors. Systems mount at the reactor edge, such as on a steam dam, to be independently operable from a refueling bridge or refueling operations. A moveable steam dam clamp may hold a position apparatus at the edge. The positioning apparatus includes a rotatable shoulder and arms move a tool, reactor component, and/or inspection device like a camera or VARD to desired and highly-determinable reactor positions. A float may counter shear and rotation on the shoulder from the arms. Motors at the shoulder with internal transmissions may rotate the shoulder and arms, or manual rotation may be used. The arms may also overlap vertically for installation and removal. Power, controls, and/or data may be provided underwater through an umbilical connection to operators.

Provided is a remotely operated manipulator which can be applied to a space which is wider on a back side than at an opening part, which has a simple structure, high stiffness, and high reliability. The remotely operated manipulator of the present invention includes: a circular base fixed to a wall surface; a beam which rotates on the circular base; a trolley which moves on the beam; and a mast which is raised and lowered with respect to the trolley and is mounted with a tool unit at a tip. Stiffness is improved by directly fixing the beam to the wall surface by a beam fixing device. Further, a work region is expanded by mounting a bending mast on the tip of the mast.