Capgemini, Orano Unleash Hoxo: Nuclear's First AI Humanoid

Nuclear Robotics Debuts

Capgemini and Orano have deployed Hoxo, marking the inaugural intelligent humanoid robot in nuclear operations, at the Orano Melox facility in France's Gard region. This deployment introduces a platform that replicates human movements for real-time perception, autonomous navigation, and technical task execution in high-risk environments. Over the coming four months, innovation teams will test its versatility, aiming to boost safety by reducing human exposure to hazards like radiological sampling and drum handling. Directors hail it as a game-changer for blending robotic agility with on-site expertise, redefining industrial efficiency in atomic settings.

Humanlike Agility Shines

Hoxo's bipedal design lets it navigate human-engineered spaces with natural grace, executing precise gestures alongside workers during maintenance. Embedded AI enables seamless interaction, from handing tools to monitoring hazardous zones, fostering collaborative workflows that feel intuitive. Unlike rigid industrial bots, this humanoid adapts to unpredictable conditions, interpreting surroundings via advanced cognition to perform repetitive lifts or inspections without fatigue. Early demos showcase its potential to transform team dynamics, positioning operators as supervisors rather than sole performers in demanding nuclear routines.

AI Perception Revolutionized

Engineers at Capgemini infused Hoxo with cutting-edge computer vision and digital twin tech, powering its ability to process environments in real time for flawless decision-making. This fusion of robotics and AI overcomes traditional limitations in confined, regulated nuclear zones, enabling the bot to learn from demonstrations and refine movements autonomously. Pascal Brier, Capgemini's Chief Innovation Officer, emphasizes how it pioneers physical AI, pushing automation boundaries by simulating human dexterity in ways that rigid machines cannot match.

Hazardous Tasks Transformed

In practical terms, Hoxo targets nuclear-specific challenges like transporting radioactive drums, collecting samples, and assisting in tight maintenance spots where human risk runs high. By shouldering physically taxing duties, it minimizes operator exposure while upholding precision in controlled settings. Orano envisions scaling it across facilities for ongoing monitoring and human-robot partnerships, potentially accelerating workflows and enhancing competitiveness. This testing phase at Melox Ecole des Métiers will pinpoint optimizations, paving the way for broader adoption in energy's most critical infrastructures.

Dexterity Enablers Detailed

Hoxo's skill architecture empowers nuanced human interactions through a suite of perception tools, including RGB and stereo cameras for visual cueing, LiDAR and ultrasonics for obstacle awareness, plus IMU and gyroscopes for balanced bipedal strides at 3.6 km/h. Force sensors ensure gentle tool handling and collaborative touches, while ROS2 software with Python/C++ APIs drives adaptive learning in sessions lasting up to four years on a single battery charge. At 170 x 50 x 40 cm and 80 kg, its legged mobility facilitates precise instrument delivery and gesture mimicry in industrial collaborations.

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