VEOLIA NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS (VNS) | ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
Left: Gas Line Controls - functional development testing of gas control valves before integration into a lab-style environment
What makes the Haptic VR experience so real? Engineers and operators often ask what sits behind the realism of Dexter™ in Haptic VR. That realism is driven by TOIA’s digital-twin technology, which models the real Dexter™ manipulator’s kinematics, dynamics and force behaviour in software. The haptic interface is calibrated directly against the physical system, so that movements, forces and resistances in the simulator mirror how the real robot responds. Unreal Engine provides the immersive 3D environment in which this digital twin is experienced. It renders the robot, tools and workspace and handles visual interaction and collision events, while TOIA’s real-time simulation calculates the physical contact forces, tool loads and motion constraints that are sent back to the haptic controller. Because TOIA runs the same control-grade models used for real
Above: Dexter™ remote manipulator delivered to UKAEA for the LongOps Programme. The Haptic VR simulation digitally replaces this half of the system.
handle difficult operations without exposure to radiation or other hazards. The ability to practice tasks endlessly in a virtual environment accelerates skill development while reducing reliance on the physical system, and builds core manipulation and situational awareness skills that are directly transferable to other remote handling tools such as MSM’s, robotic telemanipulators, and robotic arms.
2. Task assessment: Haptic VR also supports the design, planning and validation of remote operations. Engineers can assess the feasibility of tasks, iterate designs quickly, and refine operational strategies without the time and cost associated with full-scale physical mockups. This includes valuable exposure to rare and edge cases which, in an industry where every day might pose a new challenge, is hugely beneficial. In remote operations, for example, a complicated tool change might happen only once a year, so the opportunity to rehearse is limited in the real world but can be repeated and refined in VR. This capability extends across the nuclear sector, assisting with remote handling feasibility studies, tool selection and decommissioning strategies, ultimately enhancing both safety and operational efficiency.
Wider industry impact: safer, smarter operations The combination of Haptic VR and Dexter™ represents a step change for remote handling in the nuclear industry. By enabling operators to experience and assess operations digitally, Veolia is helping reduce the reliance on full-scale physical mockups, which are costly and resource-intensive.
machines, the system delivers ultra-low-latency, physically accurate feedback. Operators can feel weight, resistance, grip and surface contact in a way that directly corresponds to how Dexter™ behaves in the field, giving confidence that skills developed in VR will transfer reliably to live nuclear operations.
Haptic VR complements physical operations, supporting
concept design, operator training, and pre-job rehearsal. Tasks can be planned and practiced safely in a virtual environment, while final validation and real-world verification remain essential to ensure procedures, tools, and equipment perform as intended. Although it does not replace mockups entirely, Haptic
VR can reduce their frequency, accelerating development cycles and lowering operational costs. More importantly, it directly supports one of Veolia’s primary objectives: removing humans from hazardous environments. This innovation is not only a technical achievement but also a step toward safer, more sustainable nuclear operations.
Engaging with the Technology By combining force feedback, realistic virtual environments, and the precision of Dexter™, Veolia’s nuclear experts are offering operators a more intuitive experience in operator training, task assessment, and remote operation. For the nuclear industry and beyond, this innovation offers safer, more efficient, and more sustainable operational solutions. The best way to appreciate the potential of Haptic VR for
Dexter™ is to experience it firsthand. Veolia invites industry professionals to explore the system through demonstrations by visiting their nuclear solutions headquarters in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. To book an appointment or find out more contact
nuclearsolutions.comm@
veolia.com ■
Our team of experts is ready to discuss how we can collaborate to develop tailored solutions for your specific needs. Contact us at:
nuclearsolutions.comm@
veolia.com
www.neimagazine.com | January 2026 | 37
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