(Newton Research Labs: Renton, WA) -- A new tool has entered the industry, solving a problem that has vexed nuclear power utility operators for many years: How do you precisely measure underwater the internals of a nuclear reactor?

Newton Research Labs, a manufacturer of machine vision, robotics, and optical automation, has developed and deployed a laser scanning product specifically designed to operate underwater, in-vessel, within either pressurized water reactors (PWR) or boiling water reactor (BWR) reactors. The device, the NM200UW Nuclear Underwater Laser Scanner, designed in partnership with a major U.S. nuclear utility, produces a point-cloud output so detailed that when utilized with industry standard 3-D software, a fully measurable CAD model can be generated.

“This is a very exciting new product for the nuclear industry,” says John W. Bramblet, president and CEO of Newton. “The need has existed for some time to be able to produce precise measurements and dimensions in-vessel. The NM200UW, when used in conjunction with 3-D software, provides fully measurable CAD models of the internals.

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