Domestic Radiation Detection Drone to Be Exported to Thailand

Nuclear Research Institute Supplies Product to Thailand Atomic Energy Agency After In-House Development and Technology Transfer to Private Sector

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Radiation measurement equipment developed by domestic researchers has been transferred to a private company and is entering the overseas market.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute announced on the 8th that it will export the "Mobile Survey-Type Multipurpose Radiation Measurement Equipment," developed by the institute and transferred in 2020 to the nuclear technology company SIDetection Co., Ltd., to the Thailand Atomic Energy Agency.

Although it is a small-scale contract to export multipurpose measurement equipment and related drones worth about $100,000, it is evaluated that the equipment has secured a favorable position in the ASEAN countries' environmental radiation equipment construction project, which is worth $10 million annually, as the Thailand Atomic Energy Agency recognized the excellence of its performance.

The equipment and related technology were developed in 2019 by Dr. Ji Young-yong's research team at the Environment and Disaster Assessment Research Division of the institute through the Ministry of Science and ICT's nuclear research and development project. During the technology development process, performance was verified by conducting mobile surveys and measurements on-site in Fukushima in collaboration with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA).

The research team equipped the device with two high-resolution gamma-ray detectors, GPS for position information linkage, and a laser altimeter. It was structured to be mountable on tripods, backpacks, vehicles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, enabling accurate measurement of multipurpose environmental radiation in various environments.

The Thailand Atomic Energy Agency plans to use the equipment for physical protection and disaster response purposes. In peacetime, it will monitor various radiation facilities, and in the event of a radiation emergency, it will quickly approach the site using the equipment and measure environmental radiation.

Dr. Ji Young-yong of the research institute stated, "Not only the Thailand Atomic Energy Agency but also potential demand countries such as the Philippines and Singapore, which are promoting cooperation on radiation mobile surveys with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are continuously making inquiries, so we expect the ripple effect of the equipment and technology to grow even further."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.