A robotic dog has again shown its value to the Dounreay decommissioning programme by carrying out a task that was beyond the reach of human workers.

Spot is able to work in hazardous areas thanks to attributes such as the ability to climb stairs, avoid obstacles and move over rough ground.

Its latest important job was to assist staff in the site’s Fuel Cycle Area by reactivating a crucial building crane in a reprocessing plant.

The crane had been deactivated at the switchboard in 2023. Safety restrictions prohibited human interaction with the switchboard, further delaying its reactivation.

However, the facility required the crane for waste shipment and for ongoing decommissioning efforts.