AtkinsRéalis and the Oxford Robotics Institute at the University of Oxford have formed a global partnership to develop and deploy autonomous robotic systems for the nuclear and energy sectors.
The partnership will focus on robotic systems intended for use in safety-critical environments, including nuclear sites where automation could reduce the time workers spend in hazardous areas. The organisations said the work will support the development of physical AI, a field involving intelligent systems that can operate safely and reliably in real-world settings.
The collaboration follows previous work in the UK, where Oxford Robotics Institute systems were integrated into AtkinsRéalis robotics platforms for autonomous navigation, advanced mapping and hotspot detection at nuclear sites, including Sellafield. The new partnership expands that work internationally, with an initial focus on scaling UK deployments such as autonomous mobile inspection platforms and robotic manipulation systems.
Under the arrangement, robotic systems will be tested and refined at Oxford’s robotics facilities before being adapted for deployment through AtkinsRéalis’ nuclear engineering operations. The work will combine simulation, AI-enabled perception and decision-making, and real-world validation to support the use of autonomous systems in nuclear environments.
AtkinsRéalis said the partnership gives its engineers access to robotics research, autonomous systems and specialist expertise in areas including perception, navigation, manipulation, inspection, digital twin development and physical AI. The company said the collaboration is intended to help validate and deploy systems that meet safety and regulatory requirements in the nuclear sector.
“This partnership allows us to rapidly move autonomous robotics from research to operational deployment on nuclear power plants around the world,” said Sam Stephens, head of digital for nuclear at AtkinsRéalis. “Working directly with the Oxford Robotics Institute’s teams means we can test solutions in their facilities, refine them based on real nuclear challenges, and deploy them across our international operations. The result is safer working environments and better data to inform critical decisions on nuclear sites.”
Professor Nick Hawes, director of the Oxford Robotics Institute, said the collaboration showed how academic robotics research could be applied to the nuclear sector. “This partnership allows us to advance autonomous inspection and digital technologies that address real challenges across the nuclear industry,” he said.
The partnership adds to AtkinsRéalis’ robotics work in nuclear, including a remote robot operation trial with Sellafield Ltd in early 2025 and a global partnership with Kinova for robotic technology deployment. The company also said the collaboration aligns with its work with NVIDIA on physical AI, advanced simulation and AI-enabled autonomy.
