Digital Transformation of the Nuclear Industry: Leveraging Robotics, AI, and Digital Twins for Standardised, Safe, and Efficient Operations

Abdenour Benkrid, Omar Zahra, Réka Szőke, Ankur Shukla, István Szőke

2025

Abstract

The nuclear back-end is experiencing a pivotal digital transformation driven by the integration of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital twin (DT) technologies. These innovations hold strategic potential to enhance safety, efficiency, and standardisation across decommissioning, waste management, and site remediation. Using the Technical, Economic, Commercial, Organisational, and Political framework (TECOP) and Five Case Models, this paper critically assesses the value, deployment readiness, and integration barriers of these digital tools across technical, organisational, and regulatory domains. Emphasis is placed on robotics in 5D contexts, the nuclearization challenge, and the role of DT and Building Information Modelling (BIM) in scenario planning and compliance. Persistent obstacles, including fragmented certification, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, limited interoperability, and resistance to change, are analysed using data from expert surveys and project experience. Targeted strategies are proposed to address these issues and accelerate technology readiness and regulatory harmonisation. The contributions of EU-funded initiatives such as HARPERS, DORADO, and XS-Ability are highlighted as catalysts for safe and scalable digital innovation. By providing actionable recommendations, this paper supports policymakers, industry leaders, and technology developers in advancing the digital evolution of the nuclear back-end.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Benkrid A., Zahra O., Szőke R., Shukla A. and Szőke I. (2025). Digital Transformation of the Nuclear Industry: Leveraging Robotics, AI, and Digital Twins for Standardised, Safe, and Efficient Operations. In Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics - Volume 2: ICINCO; ISBN 978-989-758-770-2, SciTePress, pages 526-535. DOI: 10.5220/0013820700003982

in Bibtex Style

@conference{icinco25,
author={Abdenour Benkrid and Omar Zahra and Réka Szőke and Ankur Shukla and István Szőke},
title={Digital Transformation of the Nuclear Industry: Leveraging Robotics, AI, and Digital Twins for Standardised, Safe, and Efficient Operations},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics - Volume 2: ICINCO},
year={2025},
pages={526-535},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013820700003982},
isbn={978-989-758-770-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics - Volume 2: ICINCO
TI - Digital Transformation of the Nuclear Industry: Leveraging Robotics, AI, and Digital Twins for Standardised, Safe, and Efficient Operations
SN - 978-989-758-770-2
AU - Benkrid A.
AU - Zahra O.
AU - Szőke R.
AU - Shukla A.
AU - Szőke I.
PY - 2025
SP - 526
EP - 535
DO - 10.5220/0013820700003982
PB - SciTePress