Professors Marc Beutel, Yangquan Chen, and Peggy O’Day, lead a DOE-MSIPP grant to develop and test unmanned aerial systems for real-time methane leak detection. The research aims to utilize tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer (TDLAS)-based sensor on-board multi-rotor sUAS for detecting methane emissoins. Additionally, the work aims to integrate machine learning algorithms and digital twin-based thinking to model, map, and localize emissoins. They plan to do some controlled release testing in the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve after initial developments are made. The project includes several undergraduate researchers, who will learn the basics of methane hunting and sensing methodology. Dr. Derek Hollenbeck also serves as a mentor to the team, helping ensure success.
