Former Cold War site, Orford Ness in Woodbridge, surveyed by robotic ‘dog’ in a first for National Trust

A robotic ‘dog’ was used to carry out pioneering surveys of two former Cold War weapons testing facilities by the Suffolk coast.

Drones and mobile robots surveyed the off-limit buildings at Orford Ness, Woodbridge, on Friday – a first for the National Trust which owns and manages the site.

Now a national nature reserve, the site, which was constructed in the 1960s, was used for military testing during the Cold War.

However, two of the six laboratories, known as pagodas, have been closed to the public and staff due to safety concerns.

Glen Pearce, operations manager at Orford Ness, said: “The buildings have always had a certain mystery about them.

“When they were built and in use during the Cold War, they were shrouded in secrecy, and after they were decommissioned, they fell into disrepair.

Glen expressed his excitement for the project, saying this could help change how people engaged with structures that are deemed unsafe to enter.

“This is the first time the National Trust has employed this kind of technology and it’s a key part of our commitment to ongoing research at our places,” added Glen.

During the Cold War, the two laboratories would carry out environmental tests on the atomic bomb, and were designed to mimic the rigours to which a weapon might be subjected before detonation, including vibration, extremes of temperature, shocks and G forces.

Although no nuclear material was involved, a test failure could have resulted in a catastrophic explosion.

For this reason, the laboratories were specially designed and constructed with a shingle top which would absorb and dissipate if an explosion occurred.

Angus Wainwright, National Trust archaeologist, said: “The buildings used to be quite safe so we could go in and out as much as we liked, but now they are getting more risky as the concrete decays.”

“That’s why we are doing this survey in this remote way, without anyone going into the buildings.

“It’s all very experimental, to see if it’s possible to do a really detailed building survey with no human operator in the building.”

The drones and robotic "dog", nicknamed Spot, were designed by Boston Dynamics and the survey is the first stage of a long-term project, which includes Historic England, civil engineering contractors BAM Nuttall and University College London.

The robots have a camera mounted to the top and four hinged ‘legs’, allowing for them to be controlled remotely and from a safe distance.

Colin Evison, innovation technical lead at BAM, said: “BAM is delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with the National Trust and other partners in deploying advanced surveying technology at Orford Ness.

“The robot is an ideal method to deploy surveying equipment in and around the decaying structures sited in an environmentally sensitive location.

“The mission will provide us with valuable experience and feedback on using the survey technology, as well as the opportunity to exchange knowledge with the National Trust and other participants.”

In the last few years, the pagodas have also become part of the National Trust’s ‘curated decay’ policy whereby the two laboratories have been left to nature.

The roofs have become nesting sites for lesser black-backed gulls, which are on the UK’s amber conservation list.