SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Rapid, reliable, and accurate detection of radiation is critical in preparing for and responding to potential terrorist attacks with a radiological dispersal device (RDD) or "dirty bomb". Current detection methods using handheld or vehicle-borne detectors are inefficient, labor-intensive, and often limited to small screening areas. Despite a significant investment in unmanned air and ground systems, effectively detecting and locating radioactive sources remains a challenge to first responders. We propose to continue to develop SkyRad, an advanced UAS for detection of radiological, chemical and biological threats. SkyRad will use intelligent sensing to understand the scene and use context aware dynamic path planning to optimize the search mission. SkyRad will generate 3D mapping of the radiation as well as chemical/biological threat heat map and perform source localization. Commercial applications include law enforcement, special event security, public safety, fire and EMS agencies and private industries.
