This week’s post relates to the topics addressed in the
introductory week of class in UNSY 605 Unmanned Systems, Sensors, Perception,
and Processing. The focus of the readings, multimedia review, and discussions
have been on numerous types of sensors. By design, unmanned systems are
engineered to relieve humans from tasks that are dull, dirty, and dangerous.
The sensors are often the focus of design considerations and sometimes dictate
how a system is structured.
Less than a year ago Laser Detect Systems (LDS) Ltd. unveiled an
unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for the purpose of explosive detection. The
platform, SpectroDrone, utilizes a laser-based explosive detection system to
detect explosives and other hazardous materials, in gas, liquid, powder or bulk
form, at a distance of several meters from the threat (Tamir, 2016).
The laser-based detection system is the UAS’ primary sensor and
is derived from LDS’ detection technology. The system is comprised of multiple
electro-optical assemblies, a laser source that emits at several wavelengths, a
laser range finder, and a high-resolution camera – all integrated with
spectrometers operating LDS’ software package and proprietary algorithms (Tamir,
2016). The system is designed to use laser spectrometry to identify a variety
of hazardous materials.
While the SpectroDrone is intended to be a sUAS based detection
system, it is not limited to that alone. As stated by Eli Venezia, the
president of LDS, the sensor payload employed by the drone can be adapted for
use on ground vehicles, robots, and more (Lo, 2017). This ability makes for a
detection system flexible enough to adapt to the dynamic environment of today’s
battlefields.
The technology shows promise in applications ranging from military
logistic movement support to explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) activities. There
are obvious benefits to increasing separation from human operators and
hazardous materials and explosive devices. As noted, laser spectrometry is not
limited to explosive detection, but can also be used to detect many other
substances including narcotics, chemicals, biological substances, other
hazardous materials, and different mineral materials (Tamir, 2016). Laser
spectrometry based detection is not new, but its adaptation to smaller, more accessible
platforms is. Laser detection has potential to be an up-and-coming technology
within the unmanned community for a braoder range of uses.
Reference
Lo, C. (2017,
February, 1). Explosives Detection: The World’s First Sniffer Drone. army-technology.com. Retrieved from http://www.army-technology.com/features/featureexplosives-detection-the-worlds-first-sniffer-drone-5729390/
Tamir. (2016, November
15). SpectrDrone by LDS: Drone-Operated, Laser-Based Explosive Detection
System. Laser Detect Systems.
Retrieved from http://laser-detect.com/spectrodrone-by-lds-drone-operated-laser-based-explosive-detection-system/
