The intelligent Tether System project will develop new technologies to improve significantly the operation of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) in nuclear environments. Moreover, the project will enhance the existing RAIN technology through the development of a smart tether with micro-thrusters embedded periodically along the tether so that the tether position in the water can be controlled. In addition, Deep Learning technology will be used for real time recognition of objects recorded by the ROV cameras and combined with data from the smart tether for precise position location. 

The overall strategic aim is to enhance ROV operation in hazardous environments to enable decommissioning to be undertaken safely at lower cost. This will be of significant benefit to the nuclear industry and contribute to optimisation of decommissioning projects