Small Unmanned Aerial Systems in Emergency Response
Current sUAS Uses   Search and rescue Thermal imaging Evaluating structural stability Spread of wildfires Storm damag

Marcham, Cheri

English

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Publications 10-2021 Viability and Application of Mounting Personal PID VOC Sensors to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Cheri Marcham Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, march617@erau.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/publication  Part of the Aeronautical Vehicles Commons, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons, and the Systems Engineering and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Commons Scholarly Commons Citation Marcham, C. (2021). Viability and Application of Mounting Personal PID VOC Sensors to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. , (). Retrieved from https://commons.erau.edu/publication/2036 This Presentation without Video is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact commons@erau.edu. Viability and Application of Mounting Personal PID VOC Sensors to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems• Cheri Marcham, PhD, CIH, CSP, FAIHA• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical  UniversityMarcham, C.L., Burgess, S.S., Cerreta, J., Clark, P.J., Solti, J.P., Breault, B., & Marcham, J.G. (2021). Viability and application of mounting personal PID VOC sensors to small unmanned aircraft systems. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 39(1),1-24. http://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/CARI/article/view/8083/7440Small Unmanned Aerial Systems in Emergency Response• Current sUAS Uses • Search and rescue• Thermal imaging• Evaluating structural stability• Spread of wildfires• Storm damageSmall Unmanned Aerial Systems in Emergency Response• Crash Sites/Chemical Spills• Unknown exposures require full protection for responders until airborne concentrations can be characterized (using direct reading hand-held instruments)• Why not send in sUAS instead?Research OpportunitiesInterdisciplinary approach between Department of Flight and Graduate Studies/Occupational Safety Management teamsProvided a graduate student and an undergraduate student the opportunity for researchIs it possible to remotely evaluate potential emergency responder exposures using sUAS, or does the rotor wash from the sUAS cause too much interference?What is the optimal configuration of mounting the VOC sensor on the sUAS to obtain accurate exposure data?Research QuestionsION Cub personal VOC detector, with a 10.6 eV PID lamp and dataloggerAir Monitoring Equipment UsedDJI Inspire 1 with Ion Cub PID attached with a short tether DJI Mavic Pro with Ion Cub PID attached directly below the sUASsUAS Platforms UsedMock Spill Scenario• Jet-A and Gasoline• Steel Pan• Personal PID• Kestrel 5500 Weather Meter • wind direction and velocity• temperature• wet bulb• dew point• pressure• relative humidity• Ripples on the surfaceNo Tether0.21210.34.220.212 0.4 0.080246810Stationary meter over pan Hover 2 ft Hover 3 ftVOC Concentration (ppm)Airborne PID Readings (ppm) while Hovering Over Jet-A FuelMavic Pro Inspire 1Lower than stationary3.767.414.24.13.7 2.25 3.10.18010203040506070Stationary meterover panHover 3 ft Hover 5 ft Hover 10 ftVOC Concentration (ppm)Airborne PID Readings (ppm) while Hovering Over GasolineMavic Pro Inspire 1Lower than stationaryResults/Conclusions• If the sensor is mounted directly on the sUAS, and it hovers directly over the spill, it depends on the drone configurations as to whether the vapor concentrations detected are higher or lower than ambient levels without the drone presentNo TetherCircular Pattern Around the Pan  Goal was to collect data to generate 3D concentration map010203040506070809010015:17:43 15:17:51 15:18:00 15:18:09 15:18:17 15:18:26 15:18:35 15:18:43 15:18:52 15:19:00 15:19:09VOC Concentration (ppm)TimeVelcro Harness-Mounted on Inspire 13' High, 5' RadiusGasolineInspire Static010203040506012:33:00 12:33:15 12:33:30 12:33:45 12:34:00 12:34:15 12:34:30 12:34:45VOC Concentration (ppm) TimeVelcro Harness-Mounted on Mavic Pro5' High, 5' RadiusGasolineMavic Static3D Concentration Plot• By combining:• time points of PID concentrations• time points of sUAS GPS location (adjusted for tether length) Results/Conclusions• If the sensor is mounted directly on the drone, and the drone is not directly over the spill, the vapors from the spill did not always reach the sensor and were not always detected.Tether15 Feet 30 Feet 45 Feet0204060801001201401601800153045607590105120135150165180195210225240255270285300315330345360375390405420435450465480495510525540555570585600615630645660675VOC concentration (ppm)Time from zero (s)Inspire 1 over Gasoline, with Tether Static over pan Hung on Inspire 1 with 45' tetherHung on Inspire 1 with 30' tether Hung on Inspire 1 with 15' tether0102030405060700153045607590105120135150165180195210225240255270285300315330345360375390405420435450465480495510525540555570585600615630645660675690705720735750765780795810825VOC concentration (ppm)Time from zero (s)Mavic Pro with Tether, GasolineStatic over pan Mavic with 45' tether Mavic with 30' tether Mavic with 15' tetherInfluence of Tether1.161.765.591.295.186.040123456745 30 15VOC Measurements (ppm)Tether Length (ft)Mavic ProAverage Mavic Pro sensor readingAverage static sensor reading2.113.719.534.984.3810.402468101245 30 15VOC Measurements (ppm)Tether Length (ft)Inspire 1Average Inspire 1 sensor readingAverage static sensor readingResults/Conclusions• The hanging sensor data at 15, 30, and 45 feet below the sUAS provided similar readings to the static sensor data. • However, even with the use of a 30’ tether, a ripple from the rotor wash was noticeably visible on the surface, potentially elevating measured exposure levels, thus interfering with the ability to accurately measure potential emergency responder exposure levels.Results/Conclusions• With a 15 foot tether, there was a strong similarity between the sensors, but the concentration was also at the highest point, so estimating potential responder exposure is impacted.• The UAS operators reported that using a shorter tether was more stable than the longer tethers.• Using a 15 foot tether could be useful if the intent is to detect the presence of a spill, but not to determine responder exposure. Results/Conclusions• With the sUAS platforms used, a 45 foot tether provided the optimal length of separation from the rotors to be able to estimate exposures above the spill. • However, using a tether that long is potentially limiting because of the potential for interference by ground objects and the potential impact of wind on the hanging sensor. • The UAS operators reported a lot of drift in the operation of the UAS, and it was hard to keep the aircraft level. Further Studies Needed • Full characterization of the impact of rotorwash for each type of UAS• Optimization of the placement of the VOC sensorResearch Team (left to right):Scott Burgess, Brandon Breault, Joe Cerreta, Josh Marcham, Patti Clark, Cheri Marcham Questions?Cheri Marcham, PhD, CIH, CSP, CHMM, FAIHAEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical  Universitymarch617@erau.edu

Viability and Application of Mounting Personal PID VOC Sensors to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

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Viability and Application of Mounting Personal PID VOC Sensors to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

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