Viam, a leading engineering platform for AI, data, and automation, has joined forces with Swiss nuclear engineering company Transmutex to enhance nuclear waste management infrastructure. This partnership leverages Viam’s advanced AI technology to support Transmutex in developing robust ion source systems, addressing the critical challenge of managing long-lived radioactive waste. By integrating AI-driven insights, the collaboration aims to improve the reliability and efficiency of nuclear waste transmutation processes.
Transmutex is pioneering accelerator-driven subcritical transmutation technology to convert long-lived radioactive waste into shorter-lived isotopes, significantly reducing its hazardous lifespan. However, ion sources critical to this process are prone to unexpected shutdowns, which can halt operations for up to five days. Viam’s platform addresses this by collecting detailed sensor data and deploying AI and machine learning models to identify root causes in real time. As Eliot Horowitz, Viam Founder and CEO, states, “Transmutex is working to combat one of the most complex challenges in the nuclear energy sector. Our work together demonstrates Viam’s ability to drive actionable insights within even the most complex of systems.” This enables rapid diagnosis of hardware failures and optimization, ensuring reliable ion source performance.
Transmutex, founded in 2019 by former CERN physicists, focuses on innovative nuclear waste management solutions, including accelerator-driven systems (ADS) and fast neutron reactors. These technologies promise safer and more efficient waste processing by transforming highly radioactive waste into isotopes with a reduced lifespan, easing long-term storage challenges. The partnership with Viam enhances these efforts by providing real-time visibility into system performance, as noted by Franklin Servan-Schreiber, Co-Founder and CEO of Transmutex: “To solve major challenges around nuclear waste, we need advanced technology that can help build enduring ion sources. Viam exists at the intersection of data and AI, allowing us to access a level of real-time visibility that is essential for our operations.”
The collaboration is bolstered by a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E under the NEWTON program, aimed at advancing nuclear waste transmutation technologies. This funding supports Transmutex’s efforts to refine ion source systems, ensuring they meet the reliability requirements for efficient accelerator operation. By integrating Viam’s AI-driven data analysis, the project aims to minimize downtime and enhance the overall efficiency of nuclear waste management processes, aligning with global sustainability goals.
This partnership between Viam and Transmutex marks a significant step toward addressing one of the nuclear energy sector’s most pressing challenges. By combining Viam’s AI and data expertise with Transmutex’s innovative transmutation technology, the collaboration paves the way for more reliable, efficient, and sustainable nuclear waste management, contributing to a cleaner energy future.
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