‘Bomb sniffing drones’ touted as potential new weapon against terror attacks

NEW technology has the potential to become the premier weapon to fight terror attacks as researchers create a ‘bomb sniffing’ drone.

New weapon in fight against terror

SCIENTISTS at a US university have developed “bomb sniffing drones” which are being lauded as the ultimate weapon against terror attacks involving explosives.

Researchers, including graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have taken existing technology that can detect chemical and nuclear weapons as well as drugs and successfully reduced it in size to allow it to be fitted on drones.

The technology is similar to that used in security checkpoints at airports to scan luggage. It consists of sensors that look for gamma rays or other particles that show signs of bomb making materials.

The bomb finding drones could be used in combat zones such as Iraq and Syria to help detect roadside bombs or in countries such as Iran to ensure its government is complying with its commitment not to manufacture nuclear weapons.

It could also be used to map valuable mineral deposits or rescue survivors from the rubble of natural disasters such as earthquakes.

Developed in recent months, it will take at least a year for it to reach the market, but those in the military are excited by its potential.

“From what I’ve read, its applications are only limited by the imagination of the user,” John Weidner, who helps manage the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration told The Journal Times. “I think this can be a tremendous tool,” he said.

#US is developing bomb sniffing drones, that could detect terrorists’ IEDs & active land mines pic.twitter.com/4znFgiQyoz

— Warfare Worldwide (@WarfareWW) April 24, 2016

In addition to its potential application in combat zones, such technology could conceivably be used to fly around airport terminals or large concerts or sporting events in an effort to thwart potential terror attacks.

Japan is reportedly interested in the technology for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

However fears over the radiation produced by the drone technology could be a major hurdle for such public applications.

“Unfortunately people have this natural, sometimes irrational fear of radiation that can cause them to prejudge,” Mr Weidner said.

While anxiety over the radiation emitted is certainly an issue, according to Jerry Kulcinski, a professor of nuclear engineering and director of the lab responsible for developing the technology, a person in the target area would be exposed to the same amount of radiation as someone spending 10 minutes aboard an aeroplane at 9000m.

It’s early days for the technology and plenty of questions still remain such as its ability to detect weapons encased by lead or steel. There has also yet to be any demonstrations of the bomb detecting drone required before investment interest can be generated.

But the development in technology has certainly created some excitement.