Methane is difficult to be detected as it is colorless, toxic and harmful for the environment, specifically, when there is leaking in the natural gas pipelines. For dealing with this problem, NASA has developed a light and small miniature gas sensor.
Gas pipelines are scattered and stretch for thousands of miles prone to leaks, inspecting them is a job that is endless. Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labs and the University of California have designed a sensor for detecting the gas on Mars, by sticking it on an unmanned drone to check around. The space agency is testing a quadcopter inheriting the miniature gas sensor for detecting the methane gas; it is developed for testing the atmosphere of the red planet. The sensor contains a laser spectrometer making it sensitive enough to smell out the few parts per billion aiding it to detect the components of methane gas if they are in smaller amounts.
Through the technology the small leaks can be fixed, before they become major disasters. Researchers have named the sensor Open Path Laser Spectrometer and it was tried out on several platforms, but suited best on the unmanned aerial vehicles. The leak of methane gas is not only an environmental hazard but if unidentified, they might cause a huge loss of revenue over time. The system is undergoing flight tests in collaboration with the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI), the body that is funding the project.
NASA views the quadcopter as a great prospect for identifying the leaks, due to being able to fly and hover vertically. In the project, the tests of fixed-wing drones will also be done that can fly faster and more far than the copter and can be more practical in the remote areas.