Design, protection, perception and planning of mobile robots in nuclear power plants

Mobile robots in nuclear (MRiN) has become a multidisciplinary research field that integrates numerous technologies (e.g., nuclear technology, robotic, advanced material, artificial intelligence and construction), resulting in fragmented yet extensive related literatures. In this paper, a hybrid methodology combining bibliometric analysis with qualitative discussion is proposed to explore the advancements in MRiN over the past two decades. Four research hotspots, namely design, protection, perception and planning, are identified through quantitative bibliometric analysis employing data statistics and cluster analysis. Subsequent the qualitative discussions of the four hotspots highlight recent achievements and reveal research gaps in MRiN. Furthermore, five future research directions are proposed: 1) in-depth integration of radiation information, building information modeling (BIM), with robotics; 2) novel approaches for locating radioactive sources in complex environments; 3) multi-objective optimization of shielding structures for sensitive components; 4) advanced multi-robot collaboration for concurrent operations; 5) immersive digital twin (DT) technology combined with deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for MRiN operations. By identifying current research themes and technological trends in nuclear robotics, while providing strategic insights for MRiN's future development, this research can serve both academia and industry in terms of promoting robotics technology and computer science in nuclear industry. • A hybrid review methodology for comprehensively investigating MRiN research. • Bibliometric analysis for identifying hotspots of MRiN research. • In-depth qualitative discussion on the design, protection, perception, and planning of MRiN. • Future research directions of MRiN are proposed through discussion and analysis.