Dealing with UAV-downwash effects during airborne detection of localized gas plumes

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-borne gas detection and
measurement can drastically reduce operational risks for
the involved first responders in scenarios where hazardous
gases may be present, e.g. accidents in industrial plants or
gas leaks/accumulations in urban settings. However,
measurement accuracy and detection abilities of gas sensors
can be severely affected by the UAV’s rotor downwash,
thus leading to erroneously low gas-concentration readings.
We have investigated the applicability and operational
parameters of probing tubes extending from under
the UAV to escape downwash effects and thereby improve
measurement results.