Scientists from a UK university working on a project to use robots to help dispose of nuclear waste have visited the Chernobyl nuclear power station where they deployed specially developed radiation mapping and scanning sensors.

The University of Bristol team deployed the sensors in the now infamous control room of Unit 4. Sensors were also deployed inside the New Safe Confinement (NSC), the protective structure erected to cover the remains of the failed reactor and the original sarcophagus, which was hastily constructed in the aftermath of the April 1986 accident.

The researchers are helping develop new technologies, including using robot dogs to deal with radioactive waste. One of the devices used by experts at the university is Spot, a robot dog developed by Boston Dynamics.