Innovative Drone Technology

Advancing unmanned systems for energy, environment, and national security missions

Drone flying over a grass field and wood for analysis testing

(Photo by Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) 

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is at the forefront of operating and customizing various types of drones and drone operating systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems, unmanned underwater vehicles, and other innovative drone technologies. PNNL deploys these advanced systems to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges in energy, environmental remediation, and national security.

By leveraging extensive expertise in remote sensing, data science, computing, and high-performance equipment design, PNNL maintains a strong track record in safety and regulatory compliance. Our integrated, cross-disciplinary approach enables us to deliver novel applications for drone technology that improves data collection, monitoring, and analysis—especially in expansive or hard-to-reach locations—while also enhancing worker safety and reducing project costs.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers found that drones have potential to conduct decommissioning radiological surveys, as detailed for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the proof-of-concept report, “Drones for Decommissioning. (Video: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

Research topics

Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Nonproliferation
National Security
Environmental Remediation
High-Performance Computing
Artificial Intelligence