Veolia Nuclear Solutions (VNS) has worked with Tree C’s VR4Robots for over a decade. This blog explores how their team uses it – from early-stage feasibility to full-scale operation – and why it has become one of VNS’s most trusted digital tools. We spoke with Philippa Nunn, Head of Remote Handling Technologies at VNS, to find out more.

Robotics for nuclear environments 

VNS works at the cutting edge of robotics in nuclear environments – from fuel debris retrieval at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, to decommissioning legacy sites, and designing systems for the next generation of reactors. Each project brings its own challenges: precise geometries, unpredictable conditions, and extreme risks if things go wrong.

VR4Robots has been a transformational tool in VNS’s toolkit. Developed by long-time collaborators Tree C, this flexible robotics simulator enables the team to develop, model, and test equipment, as well as deliver realistic training programs. It integrates CAD, control systems, and immersive visualization to enhance multiple aspects of remote-handling activities.

From concept to confidence: early-stage design

VR4Robots is used from the feasibility stage, when VNS’s engineers assess whether a robot can physically perform a task, such as reaching through a narrow aperture. CAD alone offers limited insight. VR4Robots allows a model to be loaded, connected to the actual control interface, and test-driven in a realistic virtual environment.

“It’s one thing to look at CAD drawings. It’s another to actually ‘be there’ in virtual reality, moving the robot yourself.”

– Philippa Nunn, Head of Remote Handling Technologies, VNS

This process provides both the team and clients with a far more intuitive understanding of the task, especially during early design reviews. It also supports rapid iteration by catching limitations or awkward geometries during the prototyping phase.

Real-time sync: testing complex systems

VR4Robots remains central even in the live testing phase. For example, during the development of a boom arm with multiple joints designed to navigate tight, constrained spaces, VNS used a VR mock-up of the worksite and ran VR4Robots in parallel with the real hardware. The same movements were mirrored in both digital and physical environments.

“When something didn’t go quite as expected, we could go back to the VR and adjust it slightly – without any risk to the real equipment.”

– Philippa Nunn, Head of Remote Handling Technologies, VNS

This real-time digital twin setup allows the team to plan movements, validate sequences, and adjust parameters before executing them live. For systems with many joints or wide ranges of motion, it significantly reduces troubleshooting time and deepens system understanding.

Operator training and enhanced awareness

Training operators is another area where VR4Robots delivers significant value. In VNS’s support of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, operators benefit from both a full-scale physical mock-up and a high-fidelity digital twin in VR4Robots. This allows them to move through the space, practice tasks, and familiarize themselves with robotic behavior before engaging with real equipment.

This also improves situational awareness. Real-world camera views are often limited, but VR4Robots offers multiple angles and a virtual fly-around camera, helping operators visualize parts of the robot that would otherwise be out of sight.

 “Sometimes the riskiest bit of the system isn’t even the end-effector – it’s an elbow clipping a pipe behind you. VR4Robots helps keep eyes on everything.”

– Philippa Nunn, Head of Remote Handling Technologies, VNS

In VNS’s control rooms, a dedicated operator often runs VR4Robots alongside live operations, providing alternative views and real-time insights to support the rest of the team.

Flexibility, automation, and a decade of collaboration

A key factor in VR4Robots’s success at VNS is the long-standing relationship with the Tree C team. The partnership, now over 10 years strong, has enabled close collaboration on custom features – from collision flags and measurement tools to recent developments like fast CAD-to-VR imports.

 “Tree C is always open and responsive to these kinds of ideas, which has made VR4Robots a living tool that evolves with clients’ projects. In engineering often there is the need for multiple design cycles and with the CAD to VR import it’s possible to instantly test new versions of designs in the virtual environment.”

– Philippa Nunn, Head of Remote Handling Technologies, VNS

Although most operations remain human-controlled due to the unpredictability of nuclear environments, VR4Robots is also used to develop and trial repeatable sequences. For example, if a robot has to make the same entry maneuver multiple times a day, it can be simulated in VR4Robots, tested on the real system, and then automated for daily use. This reduces risk and saves valuable operator time.

Beyond the screen: VR4Robots as a strategic asset

VR4Robots is not just a technical solution; it’s a strategic asset for VNS. It enables the team to:

• Design better systems, faster, with fewer design iterations
• Train operators more effectively, even before real hardware is available
• Enhance safety and visibility during complex operations
• Support seamless collaboration between designers, engineers, and clients

And it continues to grow. New features, like upcoming session recording and interactive replay, will make it easier to create demos and share insights with clients and stakeholders. Feedback from VNS has helped shape VR4Robots not only for internal use but for the wider nuclear and offshore sectors as well.

Digital innovation for complex real-world operations

VNS remains deeply committed to solving some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges – and is proud to do so alongside trusted technology partners like Tree C. VR4Robots is now a cornerstone of how VNS de-risks complex robotic operations, from initial design through deployment and training.

For VNS, it’s not about flashy tech for its own sake. It’s about giving engineers, operators, and clients the confidence that systems will work when it matters most. In nuclear, that kind of certainty is invaluable.

Learn more about how VNS is using digital innovation to transform the energy industry, visit here