Forgotten robots of Chernobyl: a short documentary

A new short documentary from us! Many of you watched the HBO "Chernobyl" mini-series and recall the Joker robot that stopped functioning nearly instantly after it was deployed. The true story, however, is much bigger and more interesting. In this episode, we will talk about the remote-controlled equipment and experimental robotics that played a crucial role in the aftermath of the 1986 Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster and the subsequent exploration of the Sarcophagus enclosing Unit 4.

Through our research, we provide an overview of the various types of robots employed from 1986 to 1988 – covering their design, capabilities, and the challenges they faced while navigating the hazardous environment within the power plant. We included rare documental references and archival footage that will help to understand how those machines worked and what it looked like to operate them.

Additionally, using unique documents of the PO KOMBINAT – the main management company of the Zone in 1986-88, we give you a detailed picture of the conditions at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant during that years, which will help you to understand, why some robots succeeded, and others failed.

Cover image (STR-1 control panel at Jupiter Factory in Pripyat) courtesy of Carsten Olsen.

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What you will find in this episode:
00:00 – Intro
00:39 – Good news about Scout robot restoration
01:03 – Understanding the conditions at the Chernobyl NPP
01:31 – Contamination of the ChNPP site
02:17 – Probably, the very first Chernobyl robot ever
02:51 – Contamination of roofs.
04:31 – Who was responsible for robotics in the Zone?
05:00 – T-130M remotely-controlled bulldozer
06:03 – D155W Komatsu for underwater works
04:41 – Klin-1 Tank-Based robotic complex
08:56 – RR-1 Scout Robot
10:00 – Beloyarets
11:00 – TR-A1 transport robot
12:05 – German MF-2 Joker robot
13:24 – German MF-3 robot for nuclear industry
14:00 – STR-1 – perhaps, the most successful machine
16:30 – TR-G1, TR-B1, Antoshka, Vovochka, and other creations of the Institute of Robotics and Cybernetics
18:15 – Forestri and a Dump Truck
19:05 – Mobot-Ch-Hv
20:21 – Liebherr robotic crane
20:54 – A dark secret of Elephant Foot
22:54 – Modular system of robots by KB Pivdenne
23:53 – Robots of ISTC Shelter – TR-4, TR-5, TR-7, Magnetic Crawler, TR-11, DKA VL
26:00 – Outro