Autonomous Chemical Vapour Detection by Micro UAV

Remote Sensing

Kent Rosser⁵  Karl Pavey⁴  Nicholas FitzGerald⁴  Anselm Fatiaki⁵  Daniel Neumann⁴  David Carr³  Brian Hanlon²  Javaan Chahl³  Gonzalo Pajares Martinsanz¹  Norman Kerle¹ 

[1] Aerospace Division, Defence Science and Technology Group, West Avenue, Edinburgh, South Australia 5111, AustraliaJoint and Operations Analysis Division, Defence Science and Technology Group, 506 Lorimer Street, Fishermans Bend, Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia;School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia 5095, Australia;Land Division, Defence Science and Technology Group, 506 Lorimer Street, Fishermans Bend, Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia;Aerospace Division, Defence Science and Technology Group, West Avenue, Edinburgh, South Australia 5111, Australia;

关键词: vapour;    UAV;    sensor;    airborne;    detection;    real-time;   

DOI  :  10.3390/rs71215858

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The ability to remotely detect and map chemical vapour clouds in open air environments is a topic of significant interest to both defence and civilian communities. In this study, we integrate a prototype miniature colorimetric chemical sensor developed for methyl salicylate (MeS), as a model chemical vapour, into a micro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and perform flights through a raised MeS vapour cloud. Our results show that that the system is capable of detecting MeS vapours at low ppm concentration in real-time flight and rapidly sending this information to users by on-board telemetry. Further, the results also indicate that the sensor is capable of distinguishing “clean” air from “dirty”, multiple times per flight, allowing us to look towards autonomous cloud mapping and source localization applications. Further development will focus on a broader range of integrated sensors, increased autonomy of detection and improved engineering of the system.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.