January 23, 2023—After more than a year of preparation and research, the Elios 3 drone successfully completed a groundbreaking 3D mapping mission inside a radioactive waste vault built in the 1960s. This achievement provided essential data for planning the safe removal of high-level radioactive waste. The mission is believed to be the first time a drone has ever been flown inside such a high-radiation environment.
The flight took place in late November 2022 at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, part of the Idaho National Laboratory in eastern Idaho. A team of about 50 individuals worked together to prepare the site, including covering the vault with a plastic tent to comply with FAA and Department of Energy (DOE) regulations. They also used a crane to lift the vault’s heavy lid and hatch, creating a controlled entry point for the drone.
The operation was highly risky—if the drone failed or got stuck, it would be impossible to recover. Despite these challenges, the Elios 3 performed exceptionally well. Within just seven minutes, it collected all the LiDAR data needed to create a detailed 3D map of the vault. A GeoSLAM expert was on-site to process the data immediately, ensuring the final model met IEC’s requirements for future planning.
"The Elios 3 was able to gather all the data we needed, even in the high radiation levels present in the vault," said Kevin Young, Principal Electrical Engineer at IEC. "This information was critical for moving the project forward safely. It was a huge success."
For the past two years, the IEC's Calcine Retrieval Project had been searching for an effective way to map the interior of the vault. The calcine—granulated high-level radioactive waste—had been stored in large, 20-foot-tall stainless-steel bins without any clear plan for removal. Without accurate maps, it was nearly impossible to develop a safe retrieval strategy.
IEC developed a remote retrieval method involving drilling into the vault, robotically welding pipes onto each bin, and using plasma cutters to access the contents. But without a clear understanding of the vault’s layout, they couldn’t determine where to drill. That’s why 3D mapping became essential.
Before choosing the Elios 3, IEC evaluated several options, including robotic arms and helium blimps. After testing the drone in high-radiation environments and building a life-sized replica of the vault for pilot training, they were confident in its capabilities.
"After over a year of preparation, it was incredibly rewarding to see this project come to life," said Alexandre Meldem, Managing Director of Flyability North America. "The Elios 3 proves that drones can collect data in places that are too dangerous or inaccessible for humans. This mission shows how our technology can support critical operations like 3D mapping in confined spaces."
Following two successful flights, IEC conducted a third test with a heavier drone equipped with a dosimeter. Unfortunately, the drone lost altitude and became stuck on a piece of angle iron. Although it couldn't be retrieved, it transmitted a maximum radiation reading of 7 Gy/h before the battery died. Experts later confirmed that leaving the drone in place posed no risk to safety or the structure.
Now that the vault has been fully mapped, IEC is preparing to begin the removal of the calcine this year. There are six similar vaults on the site containing a total of 4,400 cubic meters of radioactive waste, all of which must be removed to complete the project.
Learn more about this mission by reading the full case study.
---
About Flyability
Flyability is a leader in confined space inspection drones, developing innovative technology that allows remote data collection in dangerous and hard-to-reach areas. Since its launch in 2014, Flyability has become a trusted name in internal inspection solutions, offering advanced hardware and software to help professionals improve safety, reduce downtime, and lower costs. With offices in Switzerland, China, Singapore, and the U.S., Flyability serves nearly 1,000 clients across 60 countries. The company works in industries such as Power Generation, Oil & Gas, Mining, Wastewater Infrastructure, Chemicals, Maritime, and Utilities.
More information: www.flyability.com / @fly_ability
Contact: info@flyability.com, +41 21 311 55 00
About the Idaho Environmental Coalition
In 2021, the Idaho Environmental Coalition, LLC (IEC) was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage cleanup operations at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site under a ten-year, $6.4 billion contract. IEC is led by Jacobs and includes North Wind Portage as a partner. The coalition’s team of small business subcontractors includes Navarro, ORT, and Spectra Tech. Together, they provide DOE with a proven team capable of accelerating cleanup efforts and reducing environmental liabilities at the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP).
More information: www.idaho-environmental.com
WWSC Products,Fast Group In Workshop,Move to Workshop Place,Size and Figure Are Customized
Changzhou Fuku Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. , https://www.fukuindustrial.com