Seeking a near-term ready Robotic Inspection Platform

OVERVIEW

Wazoku, the Seeker for this Innocentive Scouting Challenge, on behalf of Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd (RR-SMR), requires a highly autonomous robotic platform, such as a quadruped, a drone, or a mix of both, capable of carrying out repeatable plant inspections within Small Modular Reactor (SMR) environment.

The platform must navigate complex, human-designed spaces, automatically read analogue gauges, detect thermal, vibration and acoustic anomalies, perform visual inspections, reliably repeat inspection routes with minimal operator input, and capture, compare and centrally report data.

RR-SMR are open to proposed solutions targeting TRL 6, as well as proposed solutions that have only been tested in laboratory or non‑nuclear environments (RR-SMR can provide support on radiation hardening).

This is a Scouting Challenge seeking a partner or supplier to provide solutions to solve the RR-SMR business challenge; the Solver is invited to submit a written proposal to be evaluated first by Wazoku and then finalists by RR-SMR with the goal of establishing a collaborative partnership.

The Challenge timeframe is short, you will already have or be directly connected with a ready or near term ready solution in order to participate.

Your proposal must clearly identify your current solution’s maturity and your ability to be able to collaborate directly, or in partnership with Wazoku. Your stated validation of this potential is key.

Solvers with a ready or a near term ready, viable solution will be supported by Wazoku:

• With the potential to pitch directly to RR-SMR
• To be selected for the opportunity to further develop, pilot and trial their technology with Rolls-Royce SMR in a high-value, real-world nuclear application, demonstrating impact through reduced outage costs, improved inspection efficiency, and enhanced safety outcomes
• Successful trials could lead to further adoption across a future global fleet of SMR power stations, offering long-term commercial potential over a 60-year plant lifecycle

In return, Wazoku will retain a share of 30% of any financial benefits you are paid for the collaboration, as a result of the challenge.

Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solver. Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual agreement of the Solver and RR-SMR.

Any commercial deployment of a transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership, or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the Solver and RR-SMR.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on May 1st, 2026.

Please review the later Participation Guidance section before submitting a proposal.

- Login or register your interest to apply!

ABOUT THE SEEKER & ELIGIBILITY

Wazoku is an innovation ecosystem platform encompassing AI, market intelligence, venture building, patent analysis and open talent networks. It centralises data, talent, and tools to make innovation measurable, impactful and able to solve pressing challenges.

Wazoku also operate Innocentive open innovation Challenges like this one, supporting the preeminent problem solver community who have delivered breakthrough results for organisations like NASA, the International Rescue Committee, and ExxonMobil.

The Rolls-Royce SMR is a radically new approach to deploying proven nuclear technology, economically and efficiently for a wide range of applications providing energy quickly and affordably to a wide variety of global locations. This unique ‘factory-built’ approach means that approximately 90% of the plant will be factory fabricated, tested and delivered to site as modules.

This challenge is open to individual entrepreneurs, academic institutions, start-ups or SMEs.

Solvers must have a ready or a near term ready, viable solution to take part.

THE CHALLENGE

Background

RR-SMR aims to deploy a fleet of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) power stations worldwide. A key feature of the programme is shifting most of the testing, fabrication, and assembly into a controlled factory manufacturing environment.

A standard kit of transportable modules will be grouped into three main categories:

a) Modularised Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems (MEP Modules)

b) Modularised civil engineering structure, and

c) Major reactor and power plant equipment

Structural steel frames will be populated with the pipes, pumps, tanks, valves, electrical, control and instrumentation equipment which make up the reactor’s operating and safety systems. Some of the buildings’ internal structures such as walls, walkways and staircases will also be integrated into these modules, to optimised plant layout.

The plant is designed to maximise operational efficiency and safety, but current inspection approaches still rely heavily on manual operator walkdowns, fixed sensor installations and planned outage inspection campaigns

RR-SMR aims to introduce robotic inspection systems that can:

• Operate within plant access routes designed for humans
• Perform repeatable, multi-modal inspections
• Generate structured, centralised digital inspection records
• Reduce operator dependency and manual intervention
• Improve predictive maintenance capability

Potential value:

• Meeting maintenance requirements within the planned 18-day refuelling outage window (planned every 18 months). Any extension beyond this window could result in ~£1M per day revenue loss
• Reduced reliance on additional sensor infrastructure across the plant

Additional benefits include:

• Reduced operational risk
• Improved health and safety
• Reduced human exposure
• Lower PPE requirements
• Improved working environment through remote operations

The challenge therefore focuses on improving the operation and maintenance of MEP modules, while also exploring broader applications of robotic inspection technologies across the plant.

The Challenge

The solution must provide a highly autonomous robotic inspection platform or platforms (e.g. quadruped, drone, or equivalent autonomous system) capable of:

• Perform repeatable inspection routes
• Reading analogue gauges automatically
• Detecting thermal anomalies (e.g. steam leaks, boiler leaks, hotspots)
• Monitoring vibration and noise patterns
• Performing bolt inspections
• Conducting visual inspections (corrosion, coating, surface degradation)

For inspection data management and reporting, the solution must also be capable of:

• Comparing inspection data over time
• Automatically generating inspection reports
• Centralising and structuring inspection data

The solution should minimise the need for additional fixed plant sensors.

The goal is to reduce human risk in hazardous environments, particularly during initial entry, while maximising data collection through automation.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

You will already have or be connected with a ready or near-term ready solution in order to participate.

Your proposal must clearly identify your current solution’s maturity and your ability to be able to collaborate directly or in partnership with Wazoku. Your stated validation of this potential is key.

RR-SMR are open to proposed solutions targeting TRL 6, as well as proposed solutions that have only been tested in laboratory or non‑nuclear environments (RR-SMR can provide support on radiation hardening).

Solutions should be deployable for field tests within 12 months (around 2027 Q3).

Functional Requirements:

The solution must:

Navigation and Mobility:

• Operate autonomously (not radio-controlled)
• Navigate constrained plant access routes designed for human movement and task execution
• Operate within:
  • Minimum clear width: 500 mm
  • Nominal overhead clearance: 2200 mm
  • Reduced clearance environments where a low-profile or kneeling posture would normally be adopted by a human
• Demonstrate safe coexistence with human operators within the same operating zone
• Not require permanent modification of plant access provisions

Drone-specific requirements:

• Indoor operation capability
• Operate within:
  • 2.052 m reduced clearance height in passageways
  • 3.3 m nominal floor-to-floor height
  • 1400 mm corridor widths
• Tethered systems are not suitable

Inspection capability:

• Read gauges positioned between 916 mm and 1404 mm from floor level (i.e. knee height and head height of the 99th-percentile adult)
• Provide repeatable route navigation with minimal operator input
• Integrate visual and sensor data
• Enable anomaly detection referencing baseline data
• Provide centralised data capture and automated reporting

Technical Requirements

The solution is required to have some/all of the following:

• Automate analogue gauge reading
• Thermal anomaly detection (e.g. steam/boiler leaks)
• Noise detection and vibration monitoring
• Bolt inspections (tension)
• Visual Inspections: corrosion, coating and other surface inspections
• Repeatable route navigation with minimal operator control
• Centralised data capture and automated reporting
• Anomaly detections with reference to initial scene/data collected (first entry)
• Basic data security and governance
• Data ownership lies with RR-SMR

Solvers do not need to demonstrate all listed capabilities at the point of application. Solutions that credibly address a subset (for example ~50%) of the total functional requirements, particularly where the core capabilities are met, are acceptable and encouraged. Visual inspections would be a prioritised requirement.

RR‑SMR recognises that additional functionality may be developed collaboratively during pilot trials and subsequent phases, subject to technical feasibility and value.

Operating Conditions

The solution must:

• Not be pneumatically or hydraulically powered
• Be suitable for decontamination procedures
• Include safe recovery procures in case of failure and avoid uncontrolled dispersal of components in this event
• Ideally be radiation tolerant

Radiation tolerance is preferred as we need to understand the level and lifetime of the solution in both high and low dose rate environment (however, RR-SMR can provide support on radiation hardening).

Cost Requirement

The anticipated annual and/or lifetime cost of the solution should be broadly comparable to, or lower than, the equivalent cost of manual inspection, taking account of lifecycle benefits and scalability.

Out of Scope

The solution should not increase damage to people or the environment.

Proposals will be assessed on:

• Relevance to the defined challenge
• Credibility of the applicant
• Being ready or near-term ready
• Ability to launch in line with expected timescales
• Development potential
• Benefit of implementation
• Feasibility/economic viability
• Innovative nature
• Coherence of the proposed business model

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please log in and register your interest to complete the submission form and add attachments.

The submitted proposals must be written in English and include:

1. Participation type – you will first be asked to inform us how you are participating in this challenge, as a Solver (Individual) or Solver (Organization).
2. Idea Summary - Please identify your technology and its advantages for the potential solution to the challenge (Keep this summary under 300 words. Below, you can also upload up to 3 supporting documents - PDF, Word, PowerPoint and images (jpg and png), Max 10MB per file).
3. Technology Readiness - Please select which TRL (Technology Readiness Level) your technology is currently at.
4. Describe your technology readiness level (Keep the description under 300 words).
5. Intellectual Property - Describe your intellectual property (IP) status. Have you, or do you intend to, protect IP status associated with your technology? Please identify the IP status for any supporting technology. (Keep the description under 300 words).
6. Expertise and Use Cases - Expertise, skills and real-world use cases you or your organization have in relation to your proposed solution (up to 300 words).
7. Solution Ready - confirm you have or have access to a ready or near term ready physical platform.

PARTICIPATION GUIDANCE

1. Submission Close Date: Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on May 1st, 2026.
2. Late submissions: Late submissions will not be considered.
3. Multiple submissions, One Maximum: In case of multiple submissions by the same Solver, only one submission – the final one submitted – will be considered. Any other submissions will be deleted prior to evaluation.
4. Submission form and attachments: Your submission will first be evaluated by Wazoku and finalists by the RR-SMR evaluation team, first reviewing the information and content you have submitted at the submission form, with attachments used as additional context to your form submission. Submissions relying solely on attachments will receive less attention.
5. Evaluation notification steps: After the Challenge submission close date, Wazoku will review and select the solutions it will propose and position with RR-SMR, according to the timeline in the Challenge header. Everyone who submits a proposal will be notified about the status of their submissions.
6. Use of AI: Please note that any submissions produced solely with generative AI are not of interest.
7. Learn more: Find out more about participation in Innocentive Challenges.