Bomb-Sniffing Drone Technology Developed at UW Could Become
Nightmare for Terrorists
April 24--Drones may soon have the capability to save thousands of lives
each year by detecting terrorists' improvised explosive devices and active land
mines from long-ago wars thanks to innovative technology developed at
UW-Madison.
The proven detection technology that also can detect chemical and nuclear
weapons and drugs was successfully miniaturized and designed to fly on small
unmanned aircraft by Fusion Technology Lab graduate students about five months
ago, according to Jerry Kulcinski, an emeritus professor of nuclear engineering
and the lab's director.
"They did something that has never been done before," Kulcinski
said.
The centerpiece of the system is a fusion device that paints a target area
with neutrons. Then sensors look for gamma rays or other particles with the
signatures of specific materials such as explosives or a nuclear device. It's
the same technology used at security checkpoints to scan luggage and shipping
containers in airports, but the breakthrough for the UW-Madison scientists was
making the radiation source small enough to mount on a drone.
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