Results of TELEMAN second call for proposals
The second call for proposals for the TELEMAN programme for robotics and remote handling for the nuclear industry brought a response from 83 organisations within 11 multi-partner shared-cost RTD proposals. The total requested Commission contribution of ECU 20.7 million represented an approximate 300% over-subscription compared to available funding. Five proposals have been selected for contract negotiation covering the main research machine types, namely: A walking/climbing robot; a light tracked inspection vehicle; a long reach for deployment through restricted penetrations; a robot gantry-mounted manipulator; and a robot wheeled maintenance/intervention vehicle. The proposals make use of generic building blocks developed in the current TELEMAN first call projects, combined with independently-funded components and research-machine test-beds. Each proposal includes extensive research in geometrically realistic settings, without the risk of contaminating the research machines in active nuclear environments. The technical progress and industrial relevance of all TELEMAN contracts will continue to be the subject of careful monitoring in cooperation with the TELEMAN User Group.