The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has successfully concluded a major trial assessing the capability of robotic and autonomous systems to manage recovery operations in hazardous environments. The trial was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and focused on Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) incident response. By deploying advanced robotics in a simulated real-world scenario – an empty shopping unit – the exercise demonstrated how autonomous platforms can navigate, detect, sample, and remediate contaminated areas, allowing human operators to remain at a safe distance from high-risk substances. The trial addressed specific challenges inherent to…
