'Drone' Aircraft May Be Used To Hunt Chemical Weapons (US Cities)

Ananova ^ | 2-9-2003

[blam]

'Drone' aircraft may be used to hunt for chemical weapons

Pilotless "sniffer-drone" aircraft could soon be flying above cities searching for the first whiff of a chemical attack.

Researchers in the United States say the drones could give early warnings of terrorist gas attacks with nerve agents such as tabun, sarin or VX.

They could also provide the emergency services with rapid analysis of a situation following a chemical attack.

The drones would be fitted with a newly developed ultra-lightweight sensor system that can detect nerve gas and blister agents.

Researcher Doug Adkins, from Livermore, California, who has been working on the SnifferSTAR system, said: "The unit is a chemical detector not a bio-detector, so it will not detect bacteria or viruses. However, it is sensitive to things like mustard gas, tabun and sarin."

SnifferSTAR consists of a series of sensor mounted on a platform about half the size of a matchbox, The Engineer magazine reported.

To test the air, the sensors absorb and concentrate air samples before releasing them to pass over thin polymer stripes that bind with any noxious agent present.

The unit can take a sample every 20 seconds - 15 seconds to draw air in and five seconds to analyse it.

Story filed: 14:43 Sunday 9th February 2003

[PhiKapMom]

Look for the UFO sighting reports to increase drastically!

[LibWhacker]

Hmmm . . . I could see it for biological agents, but nerve gas? Wouldn't the presence of nerve gas already be apparent on the ground long before a UAV flying at hundreds or thousands of feet could detect it?

[blam]

"Look for the UFO sighting reports to increase drastically!"

I'll bet!!

[blam]

"I could see it for biological agents, but nerve gas? Wouldn't the presence of nerve gas already be apparent on the ground long before a UAV flying at hundreds or thousands of feet could detect it?"

I was thinking the same thing. I don't get it?

[templar]

Wouldn't the presence of nerve gas already be apparent on the ground long before a UAV flying at hundreds or thousands of feet could detect it?

My thoughts as well. I would think that the first signs of a nerve gas attack on civilian targets would be the bodies.

[Eagle Eye]

Just my guess, but they probably only use this drone over suspect areas where there is an assumed higher probability of finding something. At that point, the drone can fly as close as it needs to.

Also, it the detection threshold is in parts per trillion, it might detect substances before toxic concentrations developed.

[Eagle Eye]

I think that they are talking about finding hidden prepositioned devices, not finding attacks.

Sarin exposure is treatable if detected in time, but anyone who gets exposed is in for the worst headache of their lives.

[blam]

"I think that they are talking about finding hidden prepositioned devices, not finding attacks."

Okay, thanks.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Tall_Texan]

Wonder if it can detect really bad BO? If so, I wouldn't recommend trying it in Paris.