Drones for nuclear safety and nuclear decommissioning
SABCA and the Belgian nuclear research centre SCK-CEN combine forces to test and validate the use of semiautonomous UAVs, equipped with radiation measurement detectors, in the context of nuclear safety and nuclear decommissioning. They have developed a technology that enables drones to carry out radiological measurements. The drones will be used as part of the monitoring programme, or during decommissioning projects or emergency planning, to carry out radiological measurements without any human intervention.
Sabca provides two types of drone – a fixed-wing drone that can fly autonomously for hours and a multicopter, which can carry heavier detectors without sacrificing flexibility.
Each of the project partners emphasises the fact that this a demonstration project with which they aim to show how drones can be used and what benefits they offer. The partners believe the use of drones will enable the nuclear sector to perform precise measurements across extensive areas. Those measurements will be indispensable for the purpose of characterising forms of radiation and carrying out the radiological monitoring of nuclear sites and their surroundings.
SCK-CEN and Sabca were awarded €1 million ($1.2 million) in government funding and are also investing additional sums into the project.
Funding: Energy Transition Fund project
Project duration: 2020 – 2022
Press:
VRT NWS – Drone moet radioactieve straling in kaart brengen
KIJK Magazine – Drones meten radioactieve straling
Nuclear Engineering International – Belgian scientists develop drones for radiation monitoring
World Nuclear News – Belgium develops drones for radiation monitoring
EOS Magazine – Drones meten straling vanuit de lucht
Engineeringnet.be – SCK CEN en Sabca combineren expertise in innovatief droneproject
Gazet van Antwerpen – Drones vervangen onderzoekers om radioactiviteit te meten
L’Echo – Des drones pour surveiller la radioactivité des sites sensibles
Gazet van Antwerpen (online) – Drones vervangen onderzoekers om radioactiviteit in ons land te meten
Made in Kempen – SCK CEN en Sabca smelten samen in innovatief droneproject
RTV – SCK zet drones in om radioactiviteit te meten
RTBF – Le Centre d’étude de l’énergie nucléaire s’équipe de drones pour mesurer les radiations
L’Avenir – Nucléaire: la Belgique va tester des drones pour mesurer les radiations
