Detection of Nuclear Sources by UAV Teleoperation Using a Visuo-Haptic Augmented Reality Interface

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Automation
• Nuclear Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Remote sensing of nuclear materials is crucial for safety and security.
• Existing methods for nuclear source localization often require close proximity or lack real-time feedback.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer a platform for remote environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a visuo-haptic augmented reality (VHAR) interface for teleoperating a UAV equipped with a gamma-ray detector.
• To enhance operator situational awareness during nuclear radiation source localization and identification.
• To enable remote detection and characterization of unknown radiation sources without operator exposure.

Main Methods:

• Development of a custom Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CdZnTe)-based spectroscopic gamma-ray detector for UAV integration.
• Implementation of a 3-Degrees of Freedom (3DOF) haptic device for intuitive UAV teleoperation with force feedback.
• Creation of a 3D augmented reality (AR) environment displaying sensor data, UAV tracking, and geographical information.

Main Results:

• Successful localization and identification of a nuclear radiation source in a real-world outdoor environment.
• Demonstrated improvement in operator situational awareness through the VHAR interface.
• The haptic feedback effectively guided the operator towards the radiation source.

Conclusions:

• The VHAR interface significantly enhances the capability for remote nuclear radiation source detection and identification.
• The integrated system provides a safe and effective solution for monitoring hazardous environments.
• This technology has potential applications in nuclear security, environmental monitoring, and emergency response.