Abstract: The invention provides a method of positioning a robot intended to perform inspection and maintenance operations within a nuclear plant, and especially within a vessel of a pressurized-water reactor. The robot, which comprises an articulated arm, is controlled so that it initially attaches its head at one end of the arm to a support point having known coordinates. Then, supported on this point, the robot brings and attaches a foot-plate at the other end of the arm to a working support position having known coordinates adjacent the access opening of the vessel. The head is then released and the robot operated to move and position the head through the access opening and into the operating zone in the vessel.

Abstract: A multi-axis force and moment transducer having a plurality of flexible plates, orthogonally oriented, interconnected between first and second bodies to measure the forces exerted thereon due to relative movement between the bodies. The interconnection between a first element attached to the first body and a second element attached to the second body is affected by a plurality of first thin flexible plates and a plurality of second thin flexible plates, the ends of the plates being interconnected by a ball-joint coupling. The first thin flexible plates are oriented such that they flex in a direction generally perpendicular to a first axis, while the second thin flexible plates are oriented such that they flex in a direction generally parallel to such axis. Strain gauges may be provided on each of the thin flexible plates to provide an output of the forces.