Nuclear dismantling apparatus and method

A nuclear dismantling system for dismantling equipment contaminated with radioactive contamination, comprising:

• a dismantling apparatus to be operated remotely while in a nuclear facility, including:
• a frame having a frame vertical axis,
• a mast member mounted to the frame, the mast member extending along a mast vertical axis and having a mast lower end to enter an underlying chamber;
• and
• a work arm mounted to the mast member and bearing a gripper, and wherein the mast member is moveable between a retracted position to facilitate dispensing the workpiece and an extended position having the mast lower end extending an extended distance below a frame bottom side to reach the workpiece, and
• wherein when the mast member is in the extended position the gripper is operable to grab a workpiece adjacent the mast lower end, and
• a control system communicatively coupled to the dismantling apparatus to control the dismantling apparatus remotely.