How Self-Calibration Makes Quantitative LIBS Possible on Drones

Mounting laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instruments on drones is not a new concept, but according to Alessandro De Giacomo, a professor at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy and a longtime editorial board member of Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy, practical airborne systems have been held back by two fundamental obstacles.

Speaking with Spectroscopy at SciX 2026, De Giacomo explained how a self-calibration approach clears both hurdles and has now enabled what he believes is the first operating system capable of quantitative LIBS measurements during flight.

The first challenge is positioning. Because a drone’s location depends on a satellite connection, its placement carries an inherent uncertainty of several centimeters even under the best conditions. The second is motion: oscillation and tilting during flight mean the measurement conditions are never exactly the same from one shot to the next. Together, these factors undermine the traditional quantification approach, which relies on comparing a measurement against reference measurements. If the original experimental conditions cannot be reproduced exactly, calibration against standards breaks down.

Self-calibration sidesteps the problem by drawing everything it needs from the measurement itself. As De Giacomo described it, both the instrumental calibration and the elemental quantification are derived directly from the measured signal, with no external reference required. Because no reference experiment has to be reproduced, the drone’s positioning drift and in-flight movement no longer compromise the result. That independence, he said, gives operators considerable freedom in how the drone is used.

The system can quantify elements down to 0.1%. It can detect elements at parts-per-million levels, though it cannot quantify them at that range using this method. De Giacomo argued that this limitation matters little for drone work. Airborne surveys cover samples measured in kilometers rather than centimeters, and composition can shift significantly from one meter to the next. In that context, the goal is a broad overview of the entire field being surveyed rather than ultra-precise readings at a single point, making the method’s quantitative range well suited to the application.

Further Reading

(1) De Giacomo, A.; Workman, J., Jr.; Wetzel, W. Alessandro De Giacomo on LIBS, Plasma Physics, and Nanoparticle Size. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/alessandro-de-giacomo-on-libs-plasma-physics-and-nanoparticle-size (accessed October 12, 2026).

(2) De Giacomo, A.; Workman, J., Jr.; Wetzel, W. Beyond the Plasma: Alessandro De Giacomo on Laser–Matter Interaction and Nanoparticle Tagging. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/beyond-the-plasma-alessandro-de-giacomo-on-laser-matter-interaction-and-nanoparticle-tagging (accessed October 12, 2026).