Working to Automate Nuclear Plant Operations
Lauren Fortier is developing new systems for remote control of nuclear plants.
1The Future of Nuclear Energy
For nuclear energy to be recognized as a clean source, it needs to be cost-effective and economical. Lauren Fortier is conducting research on remote control of nuclear plants to achieve this goal.
2Inspiration from Experience
Fortier supervised nuclear plant operations on a U.S. aircraft carrier in the South China Sea. This experience made her aware of the manual intensity of operations and led her to develop the idea of automation.
3Academic Journey
Taking advantage of an opportunity offered by the Navy, Fortier pursued a master's in nuclear engineering at MIT, where she developed a supervisory control system for plant operations.
4Microreactors and Automation
Microreactors deployed in rural areas cannot afford a large human workforce. Therefore, supervised and reliable automated operations are crucial.
5Human-Machine Collaboration
Fortier is designing a system where humans and machines can work together. In this system, human intervention is only required when necessary.
6Collaborations at MIT
Fortier collaborates with organizations like Idaho National Laboratory and Westinghouse to test automated operation solutions. She also receives support from control systems experts at MIT.
7Step-by-Step Automation
Fortier emphasizes that the systems she designs will transition to automation gradually to build user trust. This approach will make operations more reliable.
Original article: MIT News — AI — Nükleer Santral Operasyonlarını Otomatikleştirme Çalışmaları