U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management representatives recently explored technical challenges and solutions and celebrated the opening of a new facility for robotics and artificial intelligence research conducted for EM and other organizations during an inaugural workshop hosted by the Applied Research Center at Florida International University.
Office of Environmental Management
May 21, 2024
minute read time
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Workshop for Nuclear Decommissioning attendees at Florida International University gather for a photo.
MIAMI — U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) representatives recently explored technical challenges and solutions and celebrated the opening of a new facility for robotics and artificial intelligence research conducted for EM and other organizations during an inaugural workshop hosted by the Applied Research Center (ARC) at Florida International University (FIU).
Held at FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus and Engineering Center, the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Workshop for Nuclear Decommissioning kicked off with welcoming remarks from Inés Triay, interim dean of FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing, Leonel Lagos, ARC’s director of research, and Rodrigo Rimando, director of EM’s Technology Operations Office.
Workshop attendees included personnel from EM cleanup sites, DOE national laboratories, DOE contractors, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international research centers, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, U.S. Department of Defense, Georgia Tech, Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Florida state and community colleges, and private industry. FIU staff, faculty and students also took part.
Officials take part in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Florida International University (FIU) Technology Innovation Hub: Applied Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. From left are Rod Rimando, director of the Technology Operations Office at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management; Himanshu Upadhyay, associate professor for the FIU College of Electrical & Computer Engineering; Heather Russell, vice provost, Faculty Leadership & Success, FIU Office of the Provost; Inés Triay, interim dean, FIU College of Engineering and Computing; and Leonel Lagos, director of research, FIU Applied Research Center, and associate professor, Moss Construction Management.
Florida International University fellows and U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program fellows present research during a lab tour at the newly inaugurated Technology Innovation Hub: Applied Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.
Florida International University Applied Research Center (ARC) Research Scientist Anthony Abrahao presents during lab tours at ARC.
The first day of the workshop was dedicated to technical challenges at federal agencies such as DOE and across the globe from the perspective of IAEA.
The second day addressed technical solutions being developed and implemented at DOE sites, national laboratories and contractors, and other federal agencies.
The third day’s focus was on the presentation of several international projects conducted at IAEA, as well as other agencies in Germany, Norway and South Korea. Participants also discussed workforce development needs and opportunities.
Workshop participants also inaugurated FIU’s Technology Innovation Hub: Applied Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. Heather Russell from FIU’s Office of the Provost delivered brief remarks and assisted in the ribbon cutting ceremony. The new facility will serve as a focal point for robotics and artificial intelligence research being conducted for EM, other federal agencies, private industry and international partners. It will also serve as a training and education center for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students interested in research and development in those areas.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by lab tours of the newly inaugurated research facility, as well as other labs at ARC supporting EM and DOE Office of Legacy Management applied research as part of a cooperative agreement between DOE and FIU.
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