OUR JOURNEY

Imitec Ltd is a University of Bristol spin-out Company formed in 2014. It is headed by the co-inventors of its award-winning drone-based radiation mapping technology; CEO Professor Tom Scott, Director of the University of Bristol’s Interface Analysis Centre (IAC), and Director of the South West Nuclear Hub and CTO Dr Oliver Payton who is a recipient of the Royal Academy of Engineering's Princess Royal Silver Medal

OUR MISSION

Redefining the Way
We Map Radiation

Radiation; you can’t see, smell or feel it but it can kill you. Understanding radiation and its risks and benefits can help us, as individuals and as a society, to make informed decisions about the use of radiation and actions to protect ourselves from possible harm.

ImiTec Limited specialises in the development and manufacture of novel methods for mapping radiation and can thus make a significant contribution to gaining a better understanding of radiation in the environment

ImiTec’s core capability is its patented Remote Isotopic Analysis System (RIAS) a radiation monitoring system that detects, characterises and maps radiation.

Our Journey So Far

2011

The Great Tohoku Earthquake and Fukushima Disaster

Following the Fukushima disaster in March 2011, researchers at the University of Bristol began to develop a prototype drone-based radiation mapping system that could be used to help determine the extent of the radioactivity release.

2012

First prototype is field tested

In summer 2012 the Bristol team achieved the first successful field test of its technology in the Uranium mining region of Banat, in the Transylvanian Alps of Western Romania.

2013

Sellafield Supports Development

Following this first successful demonstration of the technology in Romania, Sellafield assists in co-funding the development of the technology via an EPSRC Impact Acceleration grant. A patent to protect the technology is also granted (GB2511754)

2014

UK Drone History is Made and Imitec is founded

In April 2014, the Bristol team conduct the first ever UAV flights over the Sellafield site! All 15 completed flights were radiation mapping flights and doing so required the development of a comprehensive integrated Octocopter drone solution to carry our mapping system. At the time, it was quite possibly the most advanced multirotor drone system in the world.

Within a month the system is deployed in the Fukushima Fallout zone in Japan

At the request of Sellafield, the University of Bristol spins-out Imitec Ltd., founded by its two amazing inventors Professor Tom Scott and Dr Oliver Payton.

2015

Awards from the Royal Academy and Sellafield

Following the successful development of the technology, the team are awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering's ERA award for innovation (2014) and Sellafield follows suit with a Nuclear Institute Innovation award (2015). The Remote Isotopic Analysis System (RIAS) developed by the team become

2016

Drones for Good!

In February 2016, the Imitec Team makes it through to the Grand Finals of the UAE Drones for Good Competition. Despite winning the semi-finals the team narrowly loses out on winning the $1M prize money, coming in 5th out 1017 global entrants.

As a consolation the team is awarded a private audience with the Emir, to present the AARM technology.

2017-2019

Development continues at pace

From 2016 onwards, Imitec opens up a healthy pipeline of sales and also continues development of its Advanced Airborne Radiation Mapping (AARM) system, adding new functionality, new radiation sensors and also adapting it to use in cars, man-held units and even in radiation scanning robotic arms for nuclear waste size reduction and sorting.

2021

AARM version 4 is released

In January 2021, the AARM version 4 is released, representing the most advanced radiation mapping unit for UAVs on the international market. Version 4 technology has the ability to switch seamlessly between modes of data transmission, with enhanced software and hardware, enabling longer and more complex mapping missions

2022

AARM in a VTOL Fixed Wing Drone!

In early 2021, Imitec makes yet more history by releasing the world's first ever radiation mapping unit for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing drone. Purchased by the Bristol University's Hot Robotics facility (www.hotrobotics.co.uk) the system was build to fit the payload bay of a Wingtra-2 VTOL fixed-wing drone system (https://wingtra.com/)

2023

AARM for Farming and Mineral Prospecting Applications

A new activity begins for the AARM, exploring targeted agriculture and mineral mapping, in addition to nuclear industry applications.

OUR JOURNEY

OUR MISSION

Our Journey So Far

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