The Pergam Falcon is a laser-based methane detector UAV Imaging flies on the Matrice 300 RTK for aerial natural-gas leak detection. It turns a slow, walk-the-line ground survey into a fast aerial sweep, scanning gathering systems, distribution lines, well pads and tank farms at a fraction of the per-kilometre cost of a ground crew.
How it works
The Falcon uses Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS). It fires a laser tuned to a wavelength methane absorbs, points it at the ground or target, and measures how much of the reflected light comes back. Methane in the laser's path absorbs a measurable fraction of the beam, so the sensor reports a path-integrated concentration. Because it measures along the whole beam path, the reading is expressed in parts-per-million-metre (ppm-m) — concentration integrated over the distance the laser travelled.
Specifications
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Sensing method | Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) |
| Target gas | Methane (CH₄) |
| Measurement units | Path-integrated concentration, parts-per-million-metre (ppm-m) |
| Sensitivity | Low single-digit ppm-m range (manufacturer-rated; confirmed against controlled releases) |
| Response | Near-real-time readout to the pilot during flight |
| Platform | DJI Matrice 300 RTK (gimbal / payload mount) |
| Operating principle benefit | Stand-off, non-contact; no need to fly into the plume |
How UAV Imaging uses it
- Gas gathering system survey — aerial leak detection along gathering lines that are slow and hazardous to walk
- Rural distribution leak survey — gas co-op distribution networks covered at roughly 8-12 km per flight hour vs 1-2 km per crew-day on foot
- Well pad and facility screening — scanning pads, tanks and connections for fugitive emissions
- Directive 060 program support — aerial-first screening, with confirmed detections handed to a ground Method 21 (or equivalent) walkdown for repair classification
What it does and does not do
- Does: rapidly screen large networks, locate plumes, produce geo-tagged survey tracks for regulator audit, and cover terrain that is impassable on foot.
- Does not: replace the ground walkdown a regulatory framework requires to classify and repair a confirmed leak. The Falcon is the aerial-first screening layer, not the final compliance step.
How it pairs with other payloads
The Falcon replaces the H20T on the Matrice 300 for methane work. The H20T's radiometric thermal can then confirm a visible plume after the Falcon flags a hotspot location. For everything outside leak detection — inspection, mapping, stockpile, solar thermal — the H20T is the everyday payload.