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FR
ITER Robots

Cultivating curiosity and creativity

13 Jun 2022 - Yuya Sano

Robotics are everywhere. As technology develops, robots are playing an increasing role in industry, medicine, agriculture and many other fields. In ITER, the operation of mobile automated systems will be paramount in order to assemble and maintain machine components in a harsh and confined environment. The development of specific robotic applications requires inspiration, creativity and curiosity—all qualities that can be cultivated precociously.

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Organized by Agence Iter France (CEA) in partnership with the local representatives of the French Ministry of National Education, ITER Robots brings together junior and high school students in a friendly competition that mimics some of the challenges of handling actual ITER components. In the process, they learn a lot about ITER, fusion energy, and robotics engineering. Some 400 students took part in the 11th edition on 24 May.

Under the Mediterranean climate with the bright sun and deep blue sky, the fateful day fell on 24 May 2022. The last day of the ITER Robots 2022 event, organized by Agence Iter France at the École des Mines de Saint-Etienne in Gardanne, France.

More than 450 people—students, teachers and professionals—took part in the 11th edition to learn about robots and technology. The student teams had each built a small robot to simulate a maintenance situation inside the future ITER Tokamak machine—namely the remote handling of components that need replacement or refurbishment. In addition to the competitive events throughout the day, all the visitors enjoyed karaoke, dance and, surprisingly, the presence of two giant robots proposed by Lumynight Animations.

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At the ITER stand, students had a chance to learn more about a tokamak through a game app called "Operation Tokamak." The aim is to reach fusion temperatures (up to 200 million degrees Celsius!) by balancing magnetic power and heating power.

ITER Robots 2022 proposed four events in which teams of students, from elementary school up to high school, could enter their purpose-designed robots and test their design and skill to win the prize. The challenges were composed of three types of assessment: robotics tests; a general culture test, and a communication test based on student stands. Prizes were distributed by Eric Kraus, director of Agence Iter France; Bernard Beignier, the rector of the Academy of Aix-Marseille; ITER's Alain Bécoulet, head of the Engineering Domain; and Xavier Litaudon, from the French Institute for Magnetic Fusion Research, IRFM, and EUROfusion project manager.

"For me, honestly in my heart, you have all won," said Litaudon. "Why? Because you have learned so many things and learning is delightful, and also you have learned how to learn."

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