ROBOTIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR HAZARDOUS-WASTE CLEANUP

This paper provides those interested in hazardous-waste-site cleanups with both an assessment of robotic opportunities for cleaning up hazar dous waste and strong arguments for pursuing the development of this t echnique. Currently available robotic technology appears to be underut ilized in the cleanup of hazardous waste, although it is considered a viable alternative because it offers restoration solutions that are po tentially safer and more cost effective than present-day methods. Envi ronmental-cleanup contractors need to become familiar with these issue s and strongly consider using robotic techniques for cleaning up hazar dous waste that may help them maintain a competitive edge in the fast- growing environmental-cleanup market.