Remote manipulators and mobile robots in the CEA

Thanks to Jean Vertut's works in the seventies, the CEA has been a pioneer in nuclear remote manipulation and mobile robots conception and has developed innovating systems in response to industry request. During the nineties, improvements in computer control systems have led to the realization of functional demonstrators. In 1995, advances in technology have allowed to consider the first industrial applications of nuclear remote manipulators and robots. This paper gives a review of the development and research works carried out by the CEA in this domain since the seventies, and also some future prospects. (J.S.). 10 figs