How do you maintain the Large Hadron Collider?

To meet these challenges, CERN (the LHC operator) partnered with the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s robotics centre RACE (Remote Applications in Challenging Environments) – which has remote handling expertise in hazardous and hard-to-reach environments – to develop a robotic solution.

Together, the teams created the 20cm-long robotic mouse, named PipeINEER. Unlike existing pipe inspection systems, PipeINEER can navigate up to 6km on battery power alone on a single mission while operating in a space only a few centimetres wide.

As the robot moves, it captures detailed images of each of the 2,000 plug‑in modules (that handle the expansion and contraction caused by the harsh conditions) and uses AI trained on real LHC imagery to detect any abnormalities. It is equipped with energy‑efficient systems and multiple safety features that monitor its performance during long autonomous runs.

If the robot detects an issue, it returns to its starting point and reports the location of the problem. This approach allows engineers to address specific points along the LHC, without disassembling large sections of pipe and using a manual endoscope – a process that is time-consuming and expensive.

The robot will be tested over 60km of operations later this year. Following this testing, final units will be manufactured towards the end of the year, and CERN operators will be trained on the new units in early 2027.