Senior UAS Pilot / Nuclear Security Specialist Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States
Drones are novel tools for science and nuclear security; operating more economically and with a lower risk than traditional manned aircraft. They excel in tactical “at the edge” scenarios, gaining first responders enhanced situational awareness of dynamic incidents at the micro level. In nuclear security, a radioactive source in transit is at an elevated risk of being lost, damaged, or otherwise exiting regulatory control vs a source in a static location. The IAEA estimates that 20 million shipments of radioactive materials occur each year[1]. An incident involving even a single shipment could present a grievous danger to the public or the environment. Existing standard operating procedures require responders to characterize an incident area with time-consuming handheld instruments, thus risking higher exposure to ionizing radiation. The use of small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS/drones) equipped with a radiation detector may enhance situational awareness while simultaneously reducing risk to personnel. There are restrictions and vulnerabilities unique to drones that must be considered. Factors such as operational authority, obstacle avoidance, security of data, operator skill, detector sensitivity, and environmental factors all play a significant role. For example, detector sensitivity is crucial- aircraft are typically safest when operated far from the ground and obstacles. Paradoxically, radiation monitoring often requires a sensor to be close to a potential source and obstructions. The Autonomous Systems group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has conducted extensive studies and market surveys on UAS and radiation sensors. In this poster and proceedings article we present a summary of our research, as well as our experiences testing radiation sensors on small UAS. We detail some of the factors that must be considered prior to incorporating drone-based radiation detection into the nuclear security toolkit. A holistic consideration of drones for nuclear security enhances their advantages and removes barriers to successful operational integration.
