How fusion is teaching AI new tricks at ITER

2026-05-19 - A specific set of robotic tools is being developed in Japan to support the initial assembly of ITER blanket components. Designed to operate within tight space constraints, these tools can grip, fasten, tighten, weld, and cut with exceptional precision.

2026-05-07 - A vacuum vessel sector, still in its protective transport housing, is framed by the open doors of the Cleaning Facility as it is transported to the workshop across the way. Only one more sector is expected to arrive later this year.

2026-05-07 - Vacuum vessel sector #3 is brought into the former Cryostat Workshop, where the protective housing will be removed and the component will be prepped for a "flip" operation later this week to expose its un-repaired side.

2026-05-07 - Vacuum vessel sector #3 (left, in housing) is the second-to-last sector required for the ITER tokamak. On its arrival, Thursday 7 May, it is parked outdoors near the upper cylinder of the cryostat (right).

2026-05-07 - European vacuum vessel sector #3 has arrived on the ITER site. This is the fourth sector delivered by the European Domestic Agency Fusion for Energy, and the eighth to reach ITER overall.

2026-05-06 - One batch of side correction coils has arrived on site from China and another is expected later this month. Visual inspection is underway.

2026-05-05 - The team responsible for transferring the 440 tonnes of vacuum vessel sector #6 from its overhead radial beam to the concrete crown that distributes loads under the machine celebrates a first-of-a-kind operation that must be repeated eight more times.

2026-05-05 - In a significant assembly milestone, vacuum vessel sector #6 has been successfully "landed" on its gravity support. This first-of-its-kind operation means the load of the vacuum vessel sector (440 tonnes) has been “decoupled” from the central column and bioshield wall and is now being fully supported from underneath.

2026-05-06 - From the control room, the ITER teams have initiated the cooldown to 4 K (-269 °C) of the ITER magnet cold test facility. D-shaped coil TF07 is the first toroidal field coil to be tested.

2026-05-04 - This strut has been specially designed to prevent backwards sliding as the weight of vacuum vessel sector #6 is fully transferred to its gravity support—an operation that will take place later this week. Other stability clamps have been installed near the top of the sector.

2026-05-04 - The Emergency Power Supply Buildings—two on either side of the Tokamak Complex—house the systems that will step in instantly if the main electricity supply is disrupted on the ITER site. On 4 May, the European Domestic Agency team and contractors celebrate the "ready for equipment" milestone.

2026-05-04 - A view from the Radiofrequency Building, where—behind this jumble of cables—commissioning activities are underway on the first gyrotrons.

2026-04-30 - Participants to the 3rd Public-Private Fusion Workshop visit Godzilla, the robotics platform testing ITER in-vessel assembly tools.

2026-04-30 - The massive lid has been positioned over the cryostat; only final adjustments and detachment from the crane remain.