SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY

Odetics, an Anaheim technology company, is working on two research projects to study ways that artificial intelligence applications can be used in nuclear power plant operations.

Odetics has a $500,000 contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop an experimental system that can act as a computerized “adviser” to nuclear power plant workers who remove a reactor’s core and coolant system. The system will alert the operator to problems in the plant’s equipment and suggest possible steps to be taken to return it to normal operation.

In a second study, Odetics, working under a $70,000 contract with the New York Power Authority, is developing a computer system for advising nuclear plant operators on how to design or modify their facilities to reduce radiation exposure for employees.