Unmanned Aerial Systems Applications for International Nuclear Safeguards

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are a rapidly developing technology, which is increasingly available for novice users on the commercial market. UAS technology has the potential to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of safeguards implementation from both an inspector and a facility operator point of view. Several applications of UAS relevant to safeguards are already being explored, such as the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s work to develop a remotely operated UAS with radiation mapping software, and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency’s activities to monitor radiation around the Fukushima site. A multi-disciplinary research team consisting of subject matter experts from four U.S. National Laboratories recently produced an overview of potential UAS applications for international nuclear safeguards, which considered both near-term and over-the-horizon applications. In this paper, the research team describes their preliminary assessment of UAS use cases for international safeguards, including perceived safeguards benefits, technical and deployment challenges, and recommended priorities for further research.