How you can use the Elios 3 RAD

Key Benefits at a Glance

Access

The Elios 3 RAD allows for the detection of radiation contamination without requiring personnel to enter hazardous areas, enabling the creation of detailed radiation heat maps.

Comprehensive Data

With the RAD payload, drone operators can collect data to generate a “heat map” of radioactive or contaminated environments in tight and hard-to-reach spaces.

 

Site Management

The Elios 3 RAD acts as both a scout and inspector, offering critical insights that support site management and operational planning.

Safety

This system enhances safety by allowing drones to gather data without exposing humans to dangerous environments, improving situational awareness and decision-making.

What is the Elios 3 RAD?

The Elios 3 RAD is an advanced solution combining our modular Elios 3 drone with a radiation detection sensor. It enables safe and efficient radiation inspection workflows in challenging environments.

Launched in 2022, the Elios 3 is specifically designed for confined space inspections, whether it's inside a pipe or an unknown cave. Its protective cage and collision-resistant flight algorithm allow it to navigate complex and hazardous spaces confidently. This design ensures the drone remains stable even after impacts, making it ideal for operations beyond visual line of sight or in enclosed, dangerous areas.

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The Elios 3 RAD is an essential tool for enhancing safety and accelerating operations related to radiation detection. In 2023, the Elios 3’s modular payload lineup was expanded to include the RAD sensor, developed by Mirion Technologies—industry leaders in radiation detection and measurement tools.

With the Elios 3 RAD, you can detect and measure radioactive materials found in nuclear power plants or decommissioned sites. The benefits of using drones for nuclear inspections include:

  1. Enhanced Safety
    1. Drones can survey areas before human entry to assess radiation levels and determine if it’s safe for workers to proceed, helping plan operations effectively.
    2. They can alert teams to changes in radiation levels, supporting quick decisions and responses.
  2. Improved Data Collection
    1. The Elios 3 RAD inspects contaminated areas and gathers data on radiation levels, providing insights that were previously unattainable with remote sensors.
    2. It collects visual, volumetric, and radiological data, which supports creating 3D models and comprehensive radiological surveys.
  3. Better Access
    1. Using a drone allows engineers to inspect assets in locations that were once difficult to reach, such as high places or inside pipes.
    2. The Elios 3 can access areas remotely, making it ideal for inspecting internal parts of assets like pipes, provided there is enough space (50x50cm to enter, 60x60cm to inspect).

The RDS32-WR sensor used in the Elios 3 RAD is produced by Mirion Technologies, who specialize in creating reliable tools for radiological surveys and radiation detection globally. Their expertise makes them the ideal partner for the Elios 3’s inspection capabilities.

How Can You Use the Elios 3 RAD for Radioactive Material Operations?

The Elios 3 RAD has a wide range of applications, from inspecting nuclear power plants to supporting nuclear decommissioning projects. Here are three key examples of its use:

Radioactive Waste Warehouse Management

Nuclear waste management is a complex task, often involving long-term storage of materials that remain radioactive for thousands of years. In some cases, the Elios 3 has created 3D models of radioactive environments without sending people in. However, in other instances, waste is stored in sealed barrels lined with cement, which are monitored regularly to ensure containment integrity.

A drone inspection of these warehouses using the Elios 3 RAD is highly effective. It can fly inside and collect radiation level data, adhering to the ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable), ensuring minimal human exposure to radiation.

Turbine-Deck-3D-model---RAD-Trajectory---Front-View---Elevation-Color-Scheme_small

Here, a turbine deck was scanned using the Elios 3 RAD, showing the drone’s easy access around the entire asset.

By building a database of inspection readings, teams can monitor changes in radiation levels over time, helping to plan maintenance and respond quickly if a storage area is compromised. This approach reduces human exposure while ensuring safer and more comprehensive data collection.

Site Scans for Radioactive Contamination, Including Powerplants

A simple drone inspection of a nuclear power plant can save up to $500,000. Safety is crucial in these environments, where radioactive materials may be present. With the Elios 3 RAD, pre-scans can be conducted before human entry to assess radiation levels and perform visual inspections.

For example, if a pipe carrying radioactive waste shows signs of a potential breach, the Elios 3 RAD can quickly assess the area, create a radiation heat map, and identify the source of the issue. If the drone is exposed to radiation but remains functional, it can continue operating until batteries need replacing or data needs collecting. This method keeps the environment sealed and minimizes contamination risks.

Such case studies are common in nuclear power plants and decommissioning projects. The Elios 3 RAD offers a revolutionary way to enhance safety and improve site awareness by gathering data from previously inaccessible areas.

Underground Radioactive Material Storage

Another application of the Elios 3 RAD is in underground storage facilities for direct disposal of nuclear waste. These sites are often sealed or monitored for maintenance, such as repairing concrete walls. The Elios 3 RAD can enter these confined spaces to conduct visual inspections and radiation surveys, helping teams plan maintenance efficiently and reduce on-site time.

Turbine-Deck-3D-model---RAD-Trajectory---Right-Side-View---Elevation-Color-Scheme---Isolated-#2

This scan of a turbine deck with the Elios 3 RAD shows clear variations in radiation levels across the area.

The Elios 3 RAD can also help ensure that the waste being stored is stable and that no leaks have occurred. Radioactive materials can range from nuclear powerplant equipment to old medical devices, and managing them safely becomes much easier with this technology.

The Future of Drone Inspections in Nuclear Environments

The use of drones in radiation management marks a significant advancement in safety within an increasingly complex industry. The Elios 3 drone with the RAD payload has applications in both nuclear power plants and waste management, where materials remain radioactive for thousands of years.

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As many European countries move to phase out their nuclear energy plants, including Switzerland and Germany, the challenge of handling leftover waste and materials will grow. At the same time, the need to inspect current nuclear power plants will remain strong.

As modern technology evolves to solve modern challenges, the Elios 3 RAD offers a new way to collect data from previously unreachable areas while improving safety. It represents a significant step forward in the power generation and waste management sectors.

Discover more about the Elios 3 RAD and how it can transform your operations today.

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