Webcasts

Recording and Materials

Meeting Materials & Recordings

15th October 2025:

This quarterly update shared progress on deliverables, survey results, and featured a guest speaker from Dominion Energy. Key highlights include:

  • Survey Results:
    • Wiki: Public overview with member-only detailed content
    • Forum: Open to all EPRI members; insights reserved for funders
    • Webcasts: Quarterly cadence confirmed
    • Expo: Preference for hybrid format with hands-on demos
  • Deliverables Status:
    • Forum launch in progress
    • Website development with meeting materials and EPRI deliverables database
    • Planning for robotics conference and future webcasts
  • Conference Recap: Robotics workshop with live obstacle courses and vendor demos.
  • Student Project Spotlight: Magnetic drone docking system for Spot robot.
  • Guest Presentation: Dominion Energy shared lessons from autonomous Spot robot deployments for radiation mapping, gauge reading, and operational inspections.
  • Discussion Topics: Dose savings, AR integration for radiation surveys, and feasibility of long-distance tunnel inspections using robotics.

29th May 2025:

This meeting serves as the steering committee kickoff for the Unmanned Mobile Technologies Collaboration Group, a cross-sector initiative aimed at fostering the adoption of robotics, drones, and autonomous systems in the utility industry. Key highlights include:

  • Introductions from EPRI staff and project members across nuclear, generation, and energy delivery sectors.
  • Overview of the project goals, focusing on shared learning and collaboration across sectors using unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles.
  • Discussion of project deliverables, including:
    • A user group with regular calls
    • A forum site for peer-to-peer exchange
    • A wiki site for curated content and operational insights
    • In-person events and expos showcasing practical applications
  • Planning for quarterly webcasts featuring utility case studies, vendor demos, emerging technologies, and research updates.
  • Feedback requested on access levels for the forum and wiki (open vs. restricted to project members).
  • Announcement of an upcoming international robotics conference focused on nuclear applications.
  • Open Q&A and discussion on shaping future content and participation.

The meeting emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and shared innovation to accelerate the use of unmanned technologies across utility operations.

20th March 2025:

This meeting introduces a new cross-sector initiative focused on unmanned mobile technologies—including drones, ground robots, and underwater vehicles—within the utility industry. Experts from nuclear, generation, and energy delivery sectors share their current research and pilot projects, showcasing how robotics are being used for inspections, radiation measurements, maintenance, and safety improvements. Key topics include:

  • Overview of sector-specific robotics applications
  • A new supplemental project aimed at fostering collaboration and reducing costs
  • Planned deliverables: a user group, a dedicated forum, and a technology expo
  • Technical presentations on drone-based thickness measurement and autonomous inspections
  • Opportunities for utilities and vendors to join and contribute

The goal is to unify efforts across sectors, share lessons learned, and accelerate the adoption of unmanned technologies to improve safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in utility operations.