IoT solution turns drone into gas detection sensor

Now drones are to be put to work to sniff out gas leaks from transmission pipelines, thanks to a mobile detection system developed by ABB.

The system, which is capable of sniffing out even small leaks from a distance of up to 100m away, uses the company’s industrial Internet of Things (IoT) platform, ABB Ability, to allow it to upload signals to the cloud for immediate analysis anywhere in the world.

The system is based on technology originally developed to allow scientists to detect trace gases in the atmosphere.

To make the technology suitable for use in the oil and gas industry, the company reduced the size and weight of the system, allowing it to be flown by drone, said Doug Baer, global product line manager for laser analysers at ABB.

“There aren’t always roads where there are transmission pipelines, so in order to access and detect possible leaks in hard-to-reach areas like on bridges or underwater, you need to fly,” said Baer.