January 23, 2023—After more than a year of preparation and research, the Elios 3 drone has successfully completed a groundbreaking mission by 3D mapping a radioactive waste storage vault built in the 1960s. This achievement provides essential data for planning the safe removal of high-level radioactive material. The mission marks what is believed to be the first time a drone has been flown inside such a high-radiation environment. The flight took place in late November 2022 at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center on the Idaho National Laboratory Site in eastern Idaho. A team of around 50 individuals supported the operation, including setting up a protective plastic tent over the vault to comply with FAA and Department of Energy (DOE) regulations. A crane was used to lift the vault’s lid and hatch, allowing the drone access to the interior. Flying into the vault was a high-stakes operation—should the drone fail or get lost, it would not be retrievable. Despite the risks, the Elios 3 performed remarkably well. Within just seven minutes, the drone collected all the necessary LiDAR data to create a detailed 3D map of the space. A GeoSLAM expert was on-site to process the data in real-time, ensuring that the resulting model met IEC's requirements. "The Elios 3 was able to gather all the data we needed, even in the high-radiation conditions," said Kevin Young, Principal Electrical Engineer at IEC. "This data was critical for moving the project forward safely. It was a huge success." Over the past two years, IEC’s Calcine Retrieval Project had been searching for a reliable solution to map the interior of the vault. The calcine, a granulated form of high-level radioactive waste, had been stored in large, 20-foot-tall stainless-steel bins without any plans for removal. Without accurate maps, it was nearly impossible to plan the retrieval process. IEC developed a remote retrieval method involving drilling, robotic welding, and pneumatic transfer. However, without a clear understanding of the vault’s layout, they couldn’t determine where to drill. That’s why 3D mapping became a priority. Before choosing the Elios 3, IEC evaluated several alternatives, including an articulating arm and a helium-filled blimp. After testing the drone in a high-radiation environment—exposing it to up to 10,000 Roentgen per hour—they were confident in its performance. They also built a life-sized replica of the vault for pilot training. "After over a year of preparation, it was incredibly rewarding to see this project come to fruition," said Alexandre Meldem, Managing Director of Flyability North America. "This mission highlights how the Elios 3 can collect data from places that are otherwise inaccessible, supporting inspections and planning in dangerous environments." Following two successful flights, IEC conducted a third test with a heavier drone equipped with a dosimeter. Unfortunately, the drone struggled to maintain altitude and eventually got stuck on a piece of angle iron. Although it couldn’t be retrieved, it transmitted a radiation reading of 7 Gy/h before the battery died. Experts later confirmed that leaving the drone in place posed no risk to safety or the structure. Now that the vault has been fully mapped, IEC is preparing to begin the removal of the calcine this year. There are six vaults on site containing a total of 4,400 cubic meters of waste, all of which must be removed to complete the project. Learn more about this remarkable mission in our full case study. --- About Flyability Flyability is a leader in confined space inspection drones, developing technology that allows remote data collection in hazardous environments. Since 2014, the company has provided innovative solutions for internal inspections, helping professionals improve safety, reduce downtime, and lower costs. With offices in Switzerland, China, Singapore, and the U.S., Flyability serves over 1,000 clients across 60 countries. Their technology is used in industries such as Power Generation, Oil & Gas, Mining, Wastewater, Chemicals, Maritime, and Infrastructure. For more information, visit www.flyability.com or follow us @fly_ability. Contact: info@flyability.com, +41 21 311 55 00 About the Idaho Environmental Coalition In 2021, the Idaho Environmental Coalition, LLC (IEC) was awarded a ten-year, $6.4 billion contract by the U.S. Department of Energy to manage cleanup operations at the Idaho National Laboratory Site. Led by Jacobs, with North Wind Portage as a partner, IEC brings together a team of small business subcontractors, including Navarro, ORT, and Spectra Tech. Together, they work to accelerate environmental cleanup and support the mission of the Idaho Cleanup Project. More information is available at www.idaho-environmental.com. Ceramic Ring Magnets,Ceramic Block Magnets,Ceramic Ferrite Magnets,Ceramic Disc Magnets Dongguan Zhenglong Magnet Co., Ltd , https://www.zlmagent.com