Pedro Chaviano (Electrical Engineer)
Pedro Chaviano, a Florida International University (FIU) graduate student, possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a professional certificate in robotics, and is currently advancing his academic pursuits with a Master of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with specialization in a robotic curriculum. Upon completing his master’s degree, Pedro envisions furthering his education by pursuing a Ph.D. at FIU. His professional interests revolve around embedded system applications and automation.
DOE Related Research and Projects
In his role as a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Fellow, Pedro has taken on an important project focused on developing automated methods for cleaning and inspecting nuclear storage tanks at the DOE’s Hanford site, operating out of FIU’s Applied Research Center (ARC). Specifically, he is spearheading the development of the Annulus Crawler Tank Annulus Vacuum System project, guided by Dr. Amer Awwad.
Acknowledging the limitations of existing commercial technologies in meeting DOE standards due to cost-ineffectiveness and unreliability, FIU’s research endeavors to bridge this gap. Pedro’s project involves developing a remote-operated cleaning tool to deploy through a tank riser to clean the Annulus of the Double-Shell Tank. This will allow for the ultrasonic examination of the inner and outer tanks. This will ensure the safe and efficient management of radioactive and hazardous waste stored in Hanford’s underground tanks.
This crawler adeptly vacuums loose debris and deploys a front brush to agitate friable debris for a comprehensive cleaning. Overcoming challenges such as suction, filtration, maneuverability, radiation, and the ability to operate in high temperatures is a key focus.
The ultimate objective is to design a device capable of navigating the annulus of the tank, offering video feedback on the tank annulus surface while cleaning the annulus. The proposed design incorporates multiple cleaning stages and performance monitoring sensors, housed within a frame that includes a camera and motors to drive the wheels. Pedro’s current studies revolve around autonomous robotic systems.