UAV radiation mapping drone and AARM system

Jump to:

Complete UAV radiation mapping drone system

The Kromek UAV radiation mapping drone offers an accurate, affordable and versatile low-altitude aerial radiation detection vehicle which is an out of the box solution for anyone that needs to examine an area or patrol a location for radiation levels or contamination. The system gives you real-time location, measurement and mapping of radioactivity with isotope identification.

A note on drone model

Drone manufacturers often update their drone models.
Our drone experts will pick the optimal drone for your needs at the time of purchase which may differ from the drones shown on our website.

UAV radiation and mapping drone: what do you get

1. Aerial unmanned drone

A Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) with an all up weight less than 7.0 kg. This low total mass, coupled with the in-built redundancy of the aerial system represents a low risk of structural damage to buildings and the environment during its operation. This is in line with UK CAA guidelines.
The drone has a number of supporting sensor: positioning fixing (Latitude and Longitude) by multi GNSS (GPS and Glonass), number of satellites and height above mean sea level (AMSL); temperature, humidity and pressure; embedded real-time clock providing time/date fix (GSM and GNSS available as back up); laser ranging to determine height above the surface being monitored to ~1mm over 100m.

Drone manufacturers update their products regularly which means we also update the model of UAV we use regularly.

2. Radiation detector unit and payload bay

Sensors and micro-controller including battery all enclosed within one container mounted on a universal gimbal. Multiple gamma spectrometers can be connected to one unit and work simultaneously. The unit is designed for:

  • Kromek GR1 10 x 10 x 10 mm CZT based detector. Energy resolution @ 662 keV (21°C operation) <2.5% FWHM. Energy Range 30 keV – 3.0 MeV
  • Kromek SIGMA 50 25.4 x 25.4 x 25.4 mm CsI(Tl) scintillation radiation detector. Energy resolution @ 662 keV (21°C operation) <7.2% FWHM. Energy Range 50 keV – 1.5 MeV

3. Gamma spectroscopy and mapping software

10Hz snapshot rate of units data providing high resolution at speed, count per second (CPS) and spectral data transmitted simultaneously every 1 second.
Data in mapping application includes CPS over time; energy spectrum; CPS and location; dose estimation; isotope characterisation.

4. Flight training and set-up

The UAV training course covers learning to fly, mission planning, use of software and other operational concepts.

Autonomous Airborne Radiation Monitoring system (AARM)

Real-time location, measurement and mapping of radioactivity with isotope identification. Radiation technology specialists Kromek and ImiTec have joined forces to offer the Autonomous Airborne Radiation Monitoring system (AARM) which provides lowaltitude mapping of radioactive contamination. AARM delivers metre resolution maps of radiation including over high dose areas and inaccessible locations whilst minimising the risk of operator exposure.

AARM locates measures and maps radioactivity and the isotopes present in real-time significantly speeding and improving the efficiency of radiation detection and decision making. AARM is comprised of ImiTec’s Remote Isotopic Analysis SystemTM (RIASTM) mounted on a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS). RIAS payload contains a lightweightKromek gamma spectrometer and positioning devices utilising custom-built software to combine radiation intensity and geolocation data to produce high-resolution mapping of radiation levels and identification of isotopes present.

AARM Drone unit

The AARM Lite

First manufactured for the European Commission, the AARM Lite is a self-contained system, optimized for encrypted radio communication. The data collected cannot be intercepted, as it is transferred exclusively through one-to-one comms using an advanced radio link, without data hosting. Therefore, no unwanted personnel can access your data.

There is, however, the possibility to keep multiple members of the team or those in command-centres updated on a situation. The recorded data can be uploaded to a secure cloud server, so decision-makers and others elsewhere can view the data in near real-time. Post-flight, the data collected can also be distributed to select individuals as a single file in both CSV or JSON format via email.

To calculate on-ground radiation dose levels, the AARM Lite implements a LiDAR system with 120m range and centimetre accuracy. Counts per second and spectral data can also both be collected for gamma and neutron radiation, and then transferred instantly from the AARM Lite via the drone unit to the pilot’s handset and attached IOS device with the Imitec app installed. The IOS device can also be mounted on the handset, eliminating the need for multiple people in the field at once.

This radiation data is accurately collected via a paired D3S detector, GR1 or SIGMA 50, which is then integrated in real-time into a radiation map via the AARM Lite app on an IOS device. Visualising data in this way enables extensive analysis, as the app displays the data as a colourised ‘snake trail’ as it’s being gathered, distinguishing different radiation intensities, anomalies and hotspots from background radiation present.

There is also the opportunity for live video feed and thermal imaging to be collected via the gimbal camera, enabling you to correlate potentially threatening objects with identified radiation hotspots.

The AARM Lite system is solely compatible with the DJIM300 drone model, the most advanced in the market. Achieve your objectives in any field conditions, as this drone functions effectively in any environment, and across a wide range of extreme weather conditions e.g. it can withstand 15m/s winds and temperatures between -20°C and 50°C. Just because the AARM Lite can withstand harsh environments, it doesn’t mean you have to! Distance yourself from dangerous sites; the drone can constantly transmit data to the handset from up to 15km away on missions with up to 40 minutes or more of flight time.

Rather than a rail mount, the DJIM300 contains a skyport, enabling quick-release and the ability for the AARM Lite to directly interface with the drone, instantly sending data readings to the handset in real time so quick decisions can be made. The AARM Lite is also powered directly via the drone, so it’s always ready to deploy without needing to charge first.

 

A neat solution with many applications:

 

  • Keeping areas secure by monitoring and pinpointing radioactive threats over large areas or key sites e.g. infrastructure, events
  • Monitoring and mapping radiation levels after natural or human-caused disasters
  • Completing large scale exploration surveys ahead of a project
  • Assessing radiation levels when trialing new technology
  • Generating radiation maps as part of research
  • Making decisions to inform when/if a ground team is sent in
  • Search and recovery missions and emergency response
  • Air radiation clean-ups

Find out more about the AARM system and UAV drone

Download the AARM system brochure

A PDF with the complete specifications for the AARM system

Speak to our experts about the UAV drone and AARM system

Make sure the UAV drone and our AARM system meets your needs and your budget

Stay up to date with Kromek news

Subscribe to our newsletter

Unsure what product you need?

Use our Product Finder tool