OPG innovating at Pickering, Darlington nuclear stationsOPG innovating at Pickering, Darlington nuclear stationsOPG innovating at Pickering, Darlington nuclear stations
DURHAM — Virtual reality, Google glass, 3D printers, drones. Those are technologies not often associated with the nuclear industry. But, at the Pickering nuclear station, the X-Lab has been incorporating these technologies to promote innovation, save money and possibly make money for Ontario Power Generation (OPG).
Jason Wight, the director station engineering at the Pickering nuclear station, began the lab earlier this year, noting companies such as Google and Amazon have innovative centres. "They're doing crazy innovations. We took o-ring that concept and use it in the nuclear space and think differently of the work we do," Wight said. The lab has six or seven permanent staff and another 35 to 40 working part-time across the company.
The lab is "across all sites and across all platforms," he said. During a recent joint meeting of the Darlington and Pickering community advisory councils, Wight said, "We really need to take advantage of the world's technology." He noted Google glass can be used for safety, such as ensuring workers stay within dose rates.
"It's to ensure they stay out of high (dose) areas," he said. A Blue Tooth was attached to the Google glasses and "you can always know doses and where you are." The glasses have "advanced technology and are very easy to use," he said.
"There's a lot of opportunity in the 3D printing realm," Wight added. The lab printed out a piece that shortened an outage by four days, saving the company $2 million. "It's an opportunity to replace parts a lot faster and a lot cheaper.
" The lab already has three patents.
"We developed a product with its own integrated chip. "A lot of this is understanding what's around us," Wight said. The lab created a virtual reality (VR) radiation test, which the U.
S.
nuclear industry is interested in "because they aren't allowed to do this." The test can be used by a worker to simulate modifying a pump. "We can virtually design it in minutes," Wight said.
Using VR before undertaking a task will reduce errors during construction, he added. There's a VR for an air lock. "It's great familiarization on how to use an air lock. They can learn before getting in there." He noted drones have been used for three or four years.
In the past, when an inspection of the vacuum building was undertaken, platform scaffolding had to be erected around the building. Using a drone saves that cost and "it gave us the opportunity to get real close. Rather than 3D printing, we can scan it," Wight stated.
"There were whole areas we couldn't do things. Now we can. The technology is really enabling us to get there," Wight said. "If you can Google it, we are going to try it.
The nuclear industry in general isn't like this. It's hard for a nuclear station to be o-ring innovative." Being first in the industry means "something could go wrong.
" It's also a business opportunity to help OPG grow, he said. "We can make money and put it back into the system and to taxpayers," he noted. The lab has space at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology innovation centre.
"They want us up there.
" A new innovation portal on the OPG website is to be launched imminently. "We've got an incredibly talented workforce," he said. "We need to leverage the community." As for artificial intelligence, "we are just getting started.
Data security is an issue.
" "The hardest job I have right now is convincing someone to try it. We're fully supportive from the CEO down." Lab member Laura Brooks said, "We can be buyers of off-the-shelf products or we can look to make our own.
" Wight added, "We're pushing this hard.
I love a company that innovates.
If you're not innovating, you're dying.
" DURHAM — Virtual reality, Google glass, 3D printers, drones. Those are technologies not often associated with the nuclear industry. But, at the Pickering nuclear station, the X-Lab has been incorporating these technologies to promote innovation, save money and possibly make money for Ontario Power Generation (OPG).
Jason Wight, the director station engineering at the Pickering nuclear station, began the lab earlier this year, noting companies such as Google and Amazon have innovative centres. "They're doing crazy innovations. We took that concept and use it in the nuclear space and think differently of the work we do," Wight seal said. The lab has six or seven permanent staff and another 35 to 40 working part-time across the company.
The lab is "across all sites and across all platforms," he said. During a recent joint meeting of the Darlington and Pickering community advisory councils, Wight said, "We really need to take advantage of the world's technology." He noted Google glass can be used for safety, such as ensuring workers stay within dose rates.
"It's to ensure they stay out of high (dose) areas," he said. A Blue Tooth was attached to the Google glasses and "you can always know doses and where you are." The glasses have "advanced technology and are very easy to use," he said.
"There's a lot of opportunity in the 3D printing realm," Wight added. The lab printed out a piece that shortened an outage by four days, saving the company $2 million. "It's an opportunity to replace parts a lot faster and a lot cheaper.
" The lab already has three patents.
"We developed a product with its own integrated chip. "A lot of this is understanding what's around us," Wight said. The lab created a virtual reality (VR) radiation test, which the U.
S.
nuclear industry is interested in "because they aren't allowed to do this." The test can be used by a worker to simulate modifying a pump. "We can virtually design it in minutes," Wight said.
Using VR before undertaking a seal task will reduce errors during construction, he added. There's a VR for an air lock. "It's great familiarization on how to use an air lock. They can learn before getting in there." He noted drones have been used for three or four years.
In the past, when an inspection of the vacuum building was undertaken, platform scaffolding had to be erected around the building. Using a drone saves that cost and "it gave us the opportunity to get real close. Rather than 3D printing, we can scan it," Wight stated.
"There were whole areas we couldn't do things. Now we can. The technology is really enabling us to get there," Wight said. "If you can Google it, we are going to try it.
The nuclear industry in general isn't like this. It's hard for a nuclear station to be innovative." Being first in the industry means "something could go wrong.
" It's also a business opportunity to help OPG grow, he said. "We can make money and put it back into the system and to taxpayers," he noted. The lab has space at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology innovation centre.
"They want us up there.
" A new innovation portal on the OPG website is to be launched imminently. "We've got an incredibly talented workforce," he said. "We need to leverage the community." As for artificial intelligence, "we seal are just getting started.
Data security is an issue.
" "The hardest job I have right now is convincing someone to try it. We're fully supportive from the CEO down." Lab member Laura Brooks said, "We can be buyers of off-the-shelf products or we can look to make our own.
" Wight added, "We're pushing this hard.
I love a company that innovates.
If you're not innovating, you're dying.
" DURHAM — Virtual reality, Google glass, 3D printers, drones. Those are technologies not often associated with the nuclear industry. But, at the Pickering nuclear station, the X-Lab has been incorporating these technologies to promote innovation, save money and possibly make money for Ontario Power Generation (OPG).
Jason Wight, the director station engineering at the Pickering nuclear station, began the lab earlier this year, noting companies such as Google and Amazon have innovative centres. "They're doing crazy innovations. We took that concept and use it in the nuclear space and think differently of the work we do," Wight said. The lab has six or seven permanent staff and another 35 to 40 working part-time across the company.
The lab is "across all sites and across all platforms," he said. During a recent joint meeting of the Darlington and Pickering community advisory councils, Wight said, "We really need to take advantage of the world's technology." He noted Google glass can be used for safety, such as ensuring workers stay within dose rates.
"It's to ensure they stay out of high (dose) areas," he said. A Blue Tooth was attached to the Google glasses and "you can always know doses and where you are." The glasses have "advanced technology and are very easy to use," he said.
"There's a lot of opportunity in the 3D printing realm," Wight added. The lab printed out a piece that shortened an outage by four days, saving the company $2 million. "It's an opportunity to replace parts a lot faster and a lot cheaper.
" The lab already has three patents.
"We developed a product with its own integrated chip. "A lot of this is understanding what's around us," Wight said. The lab created a virtual reality (VR) radiation test, which the U.
S.
nuclear industry is interested in "because they aren't allowed to do this." The test can be used by a worker to simulate modifying a pump. "We can virtually design it in minutes," Wight said.
Using VR before undertaking a task will reduce errors during construction, he added. There's a VR for an air lock. "It's great familiarization on how to use an air lock. They can learn before getting in there." He noted drones have been used for three or four years.
In the past, when an inspection of the vacuum building was undertaken, platform scaffolding had to be erected around the building. Using a drone saves that cost and "it gave us the opportunity to get real close. Rather than 3D printing, we can scan it," Wight stated.
"There were whole areas we couldn't do things. Now we can. The technology is really enabling us to get there," Wight said. "If you can Google it, we are going to try it.
The nuclear industry in general isn't like this. It's hard for a nuclear station to be innovative." Being first in the industry means "something could go wrong.
" It's also a business opportunity to help OPG grow, he said. "We can make money and put it back into the system and to taxpayers," he noted. The lab has space at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology innovation centre.
"They want us up there.
" A new innovation portal on the OPG website is to be launched imminently. "We've got an incredibly talented workforce," he said. "We need to leverage the community." As for artificial intelligence, "we are just getting started.
Data security is an issue.
" "The hardest job I have right now is convincing someone to try it. We're fully supportive from the CEO down." Lab member Laura Brooks said, "We can be buyers of off-the-shelf products or we can look to make our own.
" Wight added, "We're pushing this hard.
I love a
Jason Wight, the director station engineering at the Pickering nuclear station, began the lab earlier this year, noting companies such as Google and Amazon have innovative centres. "They're doing crazy innovations. We took o-ring that concept and use it in the nuclear space and think differently of the work we do," Wight said. The lab has six or seven permanent staff and another 35 to 40 working part-time across the company.
The lab is "across all sites and across all platforms," he said. During a recent joint meeting of the Darlington and Pickering community advisory councils, Wight said, "We really need to take advantage of the world's technology." He noted Google glass can be used for safety, such as ensuring workers stay within dose rates.
"It's to ensure they stay out of high (dose) areas," he said. A Blue Tooth was attached to the Google glasses and "you can always know doses and where you are." The glasses have "advanced technology and are very easy to use," he said.
"There's a lot of opportunity in the 3D printing realm," Wight added. The lab printed out a piece that shortened an outage by four days, saving the company $2 million. "It's an opportunity to replace parts a lot faster and a lot cheaper.
" The lab already has three patents.
"We developed a product with its own integrated chip. "A lot of this is understanding what's around us," Wight said. The lab created a virtual reality (VR) radiation test, which the U.
S.
nuclear industry is interested in "because they aren't allowed to do this." The test can be used by a worker to simulate modifying a pump. "We can virtually design it in minutes," Wight said.
Using VR before undertaking a task will reduce errors during construction, he added. There's a VR for an air lock. "It's great familiarization on how to use an air lock. They can learn before getting in there." He noted drones have been used for three or four years.
In the past, when an inspection of the vacuum building was undertaken, platform scaffolding had to be erected around the building. Using a drone saves that cost and "it gave us the opportunity to get real close. Rather than 3D printing, we can scan it," Wight stated.
"There were whole areas we couldn't do things. Now we can. The technology is really enabling us to get there," Wight said. "If you can Google it, we are going to try it.
The nuclear industry in general isn't like this. It's hard for a nuclear station to be o-ring innovative." Being first in the industry means "something could go wrong.
" It's also a business opportunity to help OPG grow, he said. "We can make money and put it back into the system and to taxpayers," he noted. The lab has space at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology innovation centre.
"They want us up there.
" A new innovation portal on the OPG website is to be launched imminently. "We've got an incredibly talented workforce," he said. "We need to leverage the community." As for artificial intelligence, "we are just getting started.
Data security is an issue.
" "The hardest job I have right now is convincing someone to try it. We're fully supportive from the CEO down." Lab member Laura Brooks said, "We can be buyers of off-the-shelf products or we can look to make our own.
" Wight added, "We're pushing this hard.
I love a company that innovates.
If you're not innovating, you're dying.
" DURHAM — Virtual reality, Google glass, 3D printers, drones. Those are technologies not often associated with the nuclear industry. But, at the Pickering nuclear station, the X-Lab has been incorporating these technologies to promote innovation, save money and possibly make money for Ontario Power Generation (OPG).
Jason Wight, the director station engineering at the Pickering nuclear station, began the lab earlier this year, noting companies such as Google and Amazon have innovative centres. "They're doing crazy innovations. We took that concept and use it in the nuclear space and think differently of the work we do," Wight seal said. The lab has six or seven permanent staff and another 35 to 40 working part-time across the company.
The lab is "across all sites and across all platforms," he said. During a recent joint meeting of the Darlington and Pickering community advisory councils, Wight said, "We really need to take advantage of the world's technology." He noted Google glass can be used for safety, such as ensuring workers stay within dose rates.
"It's to ensure they stay out of high (dose) areas," he said. A Blue Tooth was attached to the Google glasses and "you can always know doses and where you are." The glasses have "advanced technology and are very easy to use," he said.
"There's a lot of opportunity in the 3D printing realm," Wight added. The lab printed out a piece that shortened an outage by four days, saving the company $2 million. "It's an opportunity to replace parts a lot faster and a lot cheaper.
" The lab already has three patents.
"We developed a product with its own integrated chip. "A lot of this is understanding what's around us," Wight said. The lab created a virtual reality (VR) radiation test, which the U.
S.
nuclear industry is interested in "because they aren't allowed to do this." The test can be used by a worker to simulate modifying a pump. "We can virtually design it in minutes," Wight said.
Using VR before undertaking a seal task will reduce errors during construction, he added. There's a VR for an air lock. "It's great familiarization on how to use an air lock. They can learn before getting in there." He noted drones have been used for three or four years.
In the past, when an inspection of the vacuum building was undertaken, platform scaffolding had to be erected around the building. Using a drone saves that cost and "it gave us the opportunity to get real close. Rather than 3D printing, we can scan it," Wight stated.
"There were whole areas we couldn't do things. Now we can. The technology is really enabling us to get there," Wight said. "If you can Google it, we are going to try it.
The nuclear industry in general isn't like this. It's hard for a nuclear station to be innovative." Being first in the industry means "something could go wrong.
" It's also a business opportunity to help OPG grow, he said. "We can make money and put it back into the system and to taxpayers," he noted. The lab has space at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology innovation centre.
"They want us up there.
" A new innovation portal on the OPG website is to be launched imminently. "We've got an incredibly talented workforce," he said. "We need to leverage the community." As for artificial intelligence, "we seal are just getting started.
Data security is an issue.
" "The hardest job I have right now is convincing someone to try it. We're fully supportive from the CEO down." Lab member Laura Brooks said, "We can be buyers of off-the-shelf products or we can look to make our own.
" Wight added, "We're pushing this hard.
I love a company that innovates.
If you're not innovating, you're dying.
" DURHAM — Virtual reality, Google glass, 3D printers, drones. Those are technologies not often associated with the nuclear industry. But, at the Pickering nuclear station, the X-Lab has been incorporating these technologies to promote innovation, save money and possibly make money for Ontario Power Generation (OPG).
Jason Wight, the director station engineering at the Pickering nuclear station, began the lab earlier this year, noting companies such as Google and Amazon have innovative centres. "They're doing crazy innovations. We took that concept and use it in the nuclear space and think differently of the work we do," Wight said. The lab has six or seven permanent staff and another 35 to 40 working part-time across the company.
The lab is "across all sites and across all platforms," he said. During a recent joint meeting of the Darlington and Pickering community advisory councils, Wight said, "We really need to take advantage of the world's technology." He noted Google glass can be used for safety, such as ensuring workers stay within dose rates.
"It's to ensure they stay out of high (dose) areas," he said. A Blue Tooth was attached to the Google glasses and "you can always know doses and where you are." The glasses have "advanced technology and are very easy to use," he said.
"There's a lot of opportunity in the 3D printing realm," Wight added. The lab printed out a piece that shortened an outage by four days, saving the company $2 million. "It's an opportunity to replace parts a lot faster and a lot cheaper.
" The lab already has three patents.
"We developed a product with its own integrated chip. "A lot of this is understanding what's around us," Wight said. The lab created a virtual reality (VR) radiation test, which the U.
S.
nuclear industry is interested in "because they aren't allowed to do this." The test can be used by a worker to simulate modifying a pump. "We can virtually design it in minutes," Wight said.
Using VR before undertaking a task will reduce errors during construction, he added. There's a VR for an air lock. "It's great familiarization on how to use an air lock. They can learn before getting in there." He noted drones have been used for three or four years.
In the past, when an inspection of the vacuum building was undertaken, platform scaffolding had to be erected around the building. Using a drone saves that cost and "it gave us the opportunity to get real close. Rather than 3D printing, we can scan it," Wight stated.
"There were whole areas we couldn't do things. Now we can. The technology is really enabling us to get there," Wight said. "If you can Google it, we are going to try it.
The nuclear industry in general isn't like this. It's hard for a nuclear station to be innovative." Being first in the industry means "something could go wrong.
" It's also a business opportunity to help OPG grow, he said. "We can make money and put it back into the system and to taxpayers," he noted. The lab has space at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology innovation centre.
"They want us up there.
" A new innovation portal on the OPG website is to be launched imminently. "We've got an incredibly talented workforce," he said. "We need to leverage the community." As for artificial intelligence, "we are just getting started.
Data security is an issue.
" "The hardest job I have right now is convincing someone to try it. We're fully supportive from the CEO down." Lab member Laura Brooks said, "We can be buyers of off-the-shelf products or we can look to make our own.
" Wight added, "We're pushing this hard.
I love a
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