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Laser-Reflecting Drone Maps Vulcano Gas in Fifteen Minutes

7/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Scientists trialed a laser-reflecting drone to map volcanic gas concentrations from outside the plume.
Researchers from the Technical University of Munich and the University of Mainz flew the drone over Italy’s Vulcano island.
The ground-based laser reflected by the drone enables an algorithm to generate a concentration map in about fifteen minutes.
The 2.5-kilogram drone “Tina” carries sensors for gases, particles and halogens and will be tested on Mount Etna.

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Story summary

Scientists trialed a laser-reflecting drone to map volcanic gas concentrations from outside the plume.
Researchers from the Technical University of Munich and the University of Mainz flew the drone over Italy’s Vulcano island.
The ground-based laser reflected by the drone enables an algorithm to generate a concentration map in about fifteen minutes.
The 2.5-kilogram drone “Tina” carries sensors for gases, particles and halogens and will be tested on Mount Etna.