Emergency response by robots to Fukushima‐Daiichi accident: summary and lessons learned

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extract lessons learned from the Fukushima‐Daiichi accident, caused by a big earthquake and a huge tsunami, which occurred on 11 March 2011. Design/methodology/approach Lessons learned are extracted after summarizing emergency response by robots to the Fukushima‐Daiichi accident. Findings Many lessons had been learned from the experiences on robots' emergency response to the accident; organization and operation scheme, and systemization were major lessons learned. Practical implications Unmanned constructive heavy machines and robots donated from the USA or imported from Sweden did reconnaissance work and cleaning up of rubble outside of buildings. Quince and JAEA‐3 were deployed for reconnaissance inside buildings. Social implications The Japanese nuclear disaster response robotics developed after Japan Conversion Corporation's critical accident occurred in 1999, could not work when the Fukushima‐Daiichi accident occurred on 11 March 2011. Originality/value The paper emphasizes the importance of establishing emergency response schemes when a nuclear disaster occurs.