UK radiation-mapping drone heads for Fukushima

RISER uses lasers to operate autonomously deep inside hazardous facilities (Credit: NDA)

RISER (Remote Intelligence Survey Equipment for Radiation), combines software from Cockermouth-based Createc with a UAV developed by Blue Bear, from Bedford. Createc’s N-Visage radiation mapping software creates a high-definition 3D picture of contamination, while the UAV uses lasers to operate autonomously deep inside hazardous facilities where GPS signals can’t reach. The collaboration has received financial backing from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) as well as Innovate UK.

“We are thrilled to see RISER put to work in Japan, and delighted that our early-stage support for the N-Visage system enabled Createc to develop its potential further,” said Prof Melanie Brownridge, the NDA’s head of technology.

“The subsequent collaboration with Blue Bear, again funded by the NDA through an initiative with Innovate UK, led to RISER. This shows the importance of funding innovative ideas through their journey from the drawing board to the market – not just for the NDA’s decommissioning mission but for the wider UK and overseas economy.”