Pan-European drone project detects toxic gases in disaster zones

A multimillion-dollar, multi-partner European drone project is using photonics to detect toxic gases in the atmosphere following events such as wildfires, chemical explosions and volcanic eruptions.

Going by the slightly laboured acronym FLAIR (FLying ultrA-broadband single-shot Infra-Red Sensor), the fixed-wing drone will be able to reach speeds of 120km/h, an altitude of 4,000m, and cover a radius of 80km. Onboard will be a super-continuum laser capable of detecting tiny concentrations of a range of gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, sulphur oxides, and nitrogen dioxide.

The drone project, which is expected to deliver a prototype in 2018, has already received over €3m from the EU’s Horizon 2020 fund via the Photonics Public Private Partnership. It features partners from across the continent, led by Portugal’s Tekever Autonomous Systems. The other members of the collaboration are Senseair AB (Sweden); NKT Photonics A/S, Danmarks Tekniske Universiteit (Denmark); New Infrared Technologies SL (Spain); Stichting Katholieke Universiteit (Netherlands); Eidgenossische Materialprufungs-Und Forschungsanstalt, CSEM Centre Suisse D’Electronique et de Microtechnique SA – Recherche et Developpement (Switzerland).