An X-Prize for robots for Japanese nuclear crisis

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The central problem of the Japanese nuclear disaster is becoming clear: Besides at least three reactors in danger of melting down, there are at least four pools containing spent fuel that must be cooled by adding more water.

These pools are the most dangerous parts of the crisis, since they have no containment structures. Water must be added, despite the fact that these pools are surrounded by wreckage, and the fact that radiation levels are rising to the point that soon no workers will be able to work without receiving lethal doses of radiation.

Storage pool  for spent fuel at the Japanese reactor.
Tomohiru Ohsumi/Bloomberg News

Since this crisis is beyond anything predicted, Japanese (and indeed world institutions) seem incapable of dealing with it. We need to empower creative people outside the normal channels to help, as happened during previous disasters. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, recovery efforts were paralyzed by lack of communications. One private individual with knowledge of the Internet went in and set up satellite links and internet hubs, enabling many Internet connections in the rural areas. When Chilean miners were trapped, an American engineer volunteered his innovative drill, which succeeded in rescuing the miners.

Here is a plan for how to enable such creative, unorthodox responses. It must be focused on robots--to be our eyes and hands in places where humans are unable to go. This recipe is very rough and must be refined, but it’s a start. We should focus on 5 tasks:

1. A robot which can climb stairs, clear small items of debris in its path, and do manual tasks. This robot would insert the hose into the pool and do similar tasks.
2. A small semi-autonomous helicopter or airplane which can fly into the buildings, to relay back images showing a pool’s status, and to scout a route to the pool.
3. A mobile power station which can recharge the batteries of robot #1.
4. A mobile relay station (mobile in sense it might be lowered by a helicopter onto a roof) which can relay the data streams (from the other robots inside) to outside receivers.
5. An “intelligent hose” which can regulate its own flow, find anchor points, and send back video of whether it’s filling the pool. This hose would be attached at the other end to water sources by Robot #1.

The Japanese nuclear crisis is going to continue for months, so there is time to undertake a search for the above solutions. Even if these robots arrive too late, the Japanese disaster proves there is a future market for such robots. The following steps should be advertised and facilitated by the President or someone with the necessary national clout and visibility:

1. Some organization--Google, the X-Prize organization or Nobel Committee, announces a high-stakes prize for the winner of a competition to develop each of the robots above. The prize is tripled if the robot is developed within a one- or two- month period.
2. A panel of nuclear and robotics experts is assembled to advise the prize organization, help it set rules for the competition, and advise competitors.
3. A donor for the prize steps forward, or is found.
4. The military and other national organizations provide all necessary support to the winner, or to contestants considered as potential winners. For example, the winning robots are flown to Japan on air force transports.

There are many uncertainties. For example, would the Japanese use any robot developed? I believe the publicity surrounding the Nuclear Robotics X-prize would even galvanize the Japanese themselves. When solutions are developed, publicity will create pressure for the Japanese to use them. If not, at least the robots will be developed and ready for the next nuclear disaster.

Another benefit of this approach--the world would follow the development and use of the robots as if it were a moon landing, rather than feeling helpless and defeated.