Applications of unmanned aerial vehicles in radiological monitoring: A review

The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in various applications including military, entertainment, and surveillance has been considerably growing across the world. One notable application is the utilization of UAVs for detecting and measuring contamination of radioactive materials in areas where human presence is usually dangerous or impossible. By equipping drones with radiation sensors, they can effectively monitor and map radioactive pollution in nuclear power plants in accidental scenarios, nuclear waste sites, and areas affected by radioactive accidents. This study aims to briefly study nuclear technology, nuclear hazards, and state-of-the-art UAV technologies. Issues such as nuclear type, the maneuverability of UAVs, and the radiation sensors are comprehensively discussed and reviewed. The advantages and existing challenges associated with utilizing drones for detecting radioactive substances are also explored.