System uses 'deep learning' to detect cracks in nuclear reactors – RtoZ.Org – Latest Technology News

A system under development at Purdue University uses artificial intelligence to detect cracks captured in videos of nuclear reactors and represents a future inspection technology to help reduce accidents and maintenance costs. "Regular inspection of nuclear power plant components is important to guarantee safe operations," said Mohammad R. Jahanshahi, an assistant professor in Purdue's Lyles School of Civil Engineering. "However, current practice is time-consuming, tedious, and subjective and involves human technicians reviewing inspection videos to identify cracks on reactors." Complicating the inspection process is that nuclear reactors are submerged in water to maintain cooling. Consequently, direct manual inspection of a reactor's components is not feasible due to high temperatures and radiation hazards.