Medusa MS-Series Drone & Survey Gamma Spectrometers

Passive gamma-ray survey spectrometers for fast, drone-mounted and mobile radiometric mapping. The MS-Series detects natural gamma radiation (potassium-40, uranium-238, thorium-232, and cesium-137) plus total counts, with simple operation that suits both new and experienced surveyors.

Medusa MS-Series · Drone & Survey Gamma Spectrometers · Product Data Sheet

1Overview

Medusa MS-Series radiometric sensor — MS-Series radiometric sensor, shown with the 3 x 3 in scintillation detector.

The Medusa MS-Series are passive gamma-ray survey spectrometers built for real-time aerial radiation mapping and survey. They detect natural gamma radiation (potassium-40, uranium-238, thorium-232, and cesium-137) along with total counts. Operation is simple enough for a first-time surveyor, yet the data is rich enough for an experienced one.

Medusa offers a range of easy-to-use survey tools built to make measuring spatial variation in soil a breeze. At the heart of these tools are gamma-ray spectrometers, which passively pick up the natural radioactivity in the top layer of soil. They are designed with simplicity in mind, so it is easy for individuals of all experience levels to get started with minimal effort.

Applications span drone-borne measurements, handheld soil scanning, NORM characterization, and contamination mapping. The series scales from a compact 350 ml crystal up to a 4000 ml configuration, so survey speed and sensitivity can be matched to the platform and the mission.

Features

Easy to integrate under a drone
Various scintillator sizes
Optimized for ease of use
Integrated data storage and processing
Life-long feature updates
Up to 90 km/h mapping speed

Drone or UAV not included. For users prioritizing compact and efficient deployment, the MS-350 sensor is optimized for integration with the DJI M250 RTK drone platform. With flight endurance of up to 30 minutes, this pairing enables comprehensive data collection over extensive areas, ensuring uninterrupted performance for critical survey missions.

2Model Lineup

Five models share the same survey workflow and recording rate. They differ in crystal volume, which sets the trade between mapping speed, sensitivity, and weight. Larger crystals collect more counts per second, so they support higher survey speeds on faster platforms.

Model	Crystal (CsI)	Mapping speed	Weight	Recording frequency
MS-350	3×3 in (350 ml)	up to 15 km/h	2.7 kg / 6.0 lb	up to 5 Hz
MS-700	3×6 in (700 ml)	up to 20 km/h	4.7 kg / 10.4 lb	up to 5 Hz
MS-1000	3×9 in (1000 ml)	up to 30 km/h	6.7 kg / 14.8 lb	up to 5 Hz
MS-2000	90×310 mm (2000 ml)	up to 45 km/h	12 kg / 26.5 lb	up to 5 Hz
MS-4000	4×4×16 in (4000 ml)	up to 90 km/h	28 kg / 61.7 lb	up to 5 Hz

MS-350

The MS-350 by Medusa Radiometrics is the optimal survey meter for both hand-held and drone-borne operations with a light weight of only 6.0 lbs. The MS-350 utilizes the Medusa Detector Operating System (mDOS) that keeps in-the-field usage simple, whether utilizing it for hand-held contamination mapping, locating a lost source with a UAV, or doing an airborne survey.

The typical mapping speed of the MS-350 is up to 15 km/h, with a recording frequency up to 5 Hz. It contains an ultra-rugged 350 ml CsI scintillation crystal, is optimized for ease of use, has integrated data storage and processing, and includes life-long feature updates.

MS-700

The MS-700 is optimized specifically for drone usage and is ideal for a wide range of applications such as prospecting, soil mapping, and pollution mapping. Its payload is under 5 kg, which means that the MS-700 is well-suited for off-the-shelf drones.

MS-1000

An all-in-one sensor system, the MS-1000 is robust, standalone, and can pair with a drone but is not limited to drone use applications. It features a spectrometer, GNSS, pressure, temperature, and humidity sensors. Real-time analysis and onboard storage are made possible with mDOS.

MS-2000

A scanner that is specialized for vehicle-borne mapping, the MS-2000 is an autonomous, low-power, and robust gamma-ray sensor. It is complete with a vibration-dampening mounting system and ultra-rugged housing made of Kevlar-reinforced carbon fiber. Users can mount the MS-2000 on a variety of vehicles such as quad bikes, tractors, cars, and even larger drones.

MS-4000

The MS-4000 is a lightweight airborne gamma-radiation detection system (AGRS) that can be placed within small airplanes or helicopters. It covers a multitude of applications and has been widely used for mineral exploration and remediation surveys by customers involved with geophysical survey companies, geotechnical consultants, and research institutes.

3Specifications

Gamma-Ray Spectrometer

Parameter	MS-350	MS-700	MS-1000	MS-2000	MS-4000
Scintillation crystal	3x3'' (350 ml) CsI	3x6'' (700 ml) CsI	3x9'' (1000 ml) CsI	90x310mm (2000 ml) CsI	4x4x16'' (4000 ml) CsI
Typical mapping speed	Up to 15 km/h	Up to 20 km/h	Up to 30 km/h	Up to 45 km/h	Up to 90 km/h
Recording frequency	Up to 5 hz
Radionuclide analysis	⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ¹³⁷Cs

Electrical

Parameter	MS-350	MS-2000
Input voltage	5 – 35 V	12 - 35 V
Power consumption	3 W (average), 6 W (max)
Battery	Up to 8 hours	Car Battery

GPS

Parameter	MS-350	MS-700	MS-1000	MS-2000	MS-4000
Type	uBlox ZED-F9P
Accuracy	1.5 m CEP
RTK accuracy	<1 cm
Signals	GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo

Mechanical

Parameter	MS-350	MS-700	MS-1000	MS-2000	MS-4000
Dimension	100 (Ø) x 215 (L) mm	100 (Ø) x 295 (L) mm	100 (Ø) x 375 (L) mm	120 (Ø) x 605 (L) mm	17(h) x 20(w) 86(l) cm
Weight	2.7 kg / 6.0 lb	4.7 kg / 10.4 lb	6.7 kg / 14.8 lb	12 kg / 26.5 lb	28 kg / 61.7 lb
Operating Temperature	-20 to +65 °C
IP rating	IP65