Apparatus and method for asynchronously analyzing data to detect radioactive material

Abstract

A radioactive material detection system includes a cargo container monitoring system and a control center. The cargo container monitoring system has a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation over a predetermined or commanded period of time and a transceiver configured to send the information received from the radiation sensor. The control center is in communication with the transceiver of the cargo container monitoring system. The control center is configured to receive data from at least one additional source other than the cargo container monitoring system and to asynchronously analyze the data from the at least one additional source and the information from the radiation sensor, during transit, so as to detect radioactive material in a cargo container.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 801,357 filed Mar. 16, 2004, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Asynchronously Analyzing Data to Detect Radioactive Material,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 458,923 filed Jun. 10, 2003, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Detection of Radioactive Material,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. [0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 60 / 460,202 filed on Apr. 3, 2003; 60 / 456,754 filed on Mar. 21, 2003; 60 / 445,408 filed Feb. 6, 2003; 60 / 407,148 filed Aug. 28, 2002; and 60 / 388,512 filed Jun. 12, 2002, all entitled “Method and Apparatus for Detection of Radioactive Material,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for asynchron...

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Benefits of technology

[0009] In yet another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of detecting radioactive material within a plurality of containers using a radioactive material detection system. The radioactive material detection system includes a cargo container monitoring system and a control center. The cargo container monitoring system includes a plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses and a master unit / master module. The plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses each have a wireless transmitter, a radiation sensor, a detection controller and an identification tag. The master unit / master module has a receiver configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted information from each of the wireless transmitters, a transceiver and a master controller. The control center is in communication with the transceiver of the master unit / master module. The control center is configured to receive data from at least one additional source other than the master unit / master module and to asynchronously analyze the data from the at least one additional source and the information from the radioactive material detection apparatuses so as to detect radioactive material in a particular container. The method includes using the master unit / master module and the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses to sense at least one of gamma radiation and neutrons at each radioactive material detection apparatus and transmit the initially sensed signal to the master unit / master module; establishing a background radiation space for the plurality of containers based upon the initially sensed signals; storing the background radiation space in the master unit / master module or the control center; sensing at least one of gamma radiation and neutrons over the predetermined or commanded period of time at each radioactive material detection apparatus and transmitting the currently sensed signal to the master unit / master module; establishing a current radiation space for the plurality of containers based upon the currently sensed signals; comparing the current radiation space as currently sensed by the radioactive material detection apparatuses to the background radiation space as initially sensed by the radioactive material detection apparatuses in order to identify an anomaly amongst the plurality of containers; asynchronously analyzing the data from the at least one additional source and the compared information so as to identify an anomaly amongst the plurality of containers, to reduce false positives, to reduce false negatives and / or to increase a sensitivity reading.

[0010] In yet another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of detecting radioactive material within a plurality of containers using a radioactive material detection system. The radioactive material detection system includes a cargo container monitoring system and a control center. The cargo container monitoring system includes a master unit / master module and a plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses. Each radioactive material detection apparatus has a transmitter, a detection controller and a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation over a predetermined or commanded period of time. The control center is in communication with the master unit / master module and is configured to receive data from at least one additional source other than the master unit / master module. The method includes: sensing radiation at each radioactive material detection apparatus; receiving sensed information from each radioactive material detection apparatus at the master unit / master module, over the predetermined or commanded period of time; adjusting for background or cosmic radiation to create adjusted sensor information and to facilitate the identification of an anomaly or unusual data which is likely to indicate the presence of nuclear radioactive material; and asynchronously analyzing the data from the at least one additional source and the adjusted sensor information so as to identify an anomaly amongst the plurality of containers, to reduce false positives, to reduce false negatives and / or to increase a sensitivity reading.

[0011] In yet another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of detecting radioactive material within a plurality of containers using a radioactive material detection system. The radioactive material detection system includes a cargo container monitoring system and a control center. The cargo container monitoring system includes a master unit / master module and a plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses. Each apparatus has a transmitter, a detection controller and a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation over a predetermined or commanded period of time. The control center is in communication with the master unit / master module and is configured to receive data from at least one additional source other than the master unit / master module. The method includes: mounting the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses to the plurality of cargo containers, the total set of detection apparatuses comprising an array of detector and cargo container locations; sensing at least one of gamma radiation and neutrons in totality and / or by spectral distribution over the predetermined or commanded period of time at each radioactive material detection apparatus and transmitting signals representing measured radiation to the master unit / master module; calculating an average measured radiation level at each radioactive material detection apparatus location throughout the entire array of radioactive material detection apparatuses by averaging the radiation sensed at radioactive material detection apparatuses proximate to each radioactive material detection apparatus, the set of average values for the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses forming a varying set of calculated estimates of background radiation space for the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses and corresponding cargo containers; and comparing the measured radiation at each radioactive material detection apparatus location to the calculated estimate of background radiation at each location in order to create compared sensor information; and asynchronously analyzing the data from the at least one additional source and the compared sensor information so as to identify an anomaly amongst the plurality of containers, to reduce false positives, to reduce false negatives and / or to increase a sensitivity reading.

Problems solved by technology

Because of the large number of containers which are typically transported by a single large container ship, it is difficult, if not impossible, using the presently available inspection equipment and personnel to thoroughly check each and every container for the presence of any type of contraband, including radioactive or nuclear material.

Presently, active scanning inspection equipment do not operate and get analyzed quickly enough to provide real-time scanning for every container.

The analysis time of such scanned images slows that process because it requires expertise (similar to radiology and X-ray interpretation).

When the data has been analyzed, a particular container may then be flagged for a more thorough or detailed inspection which not only causes delays in the transport of the containers, as well as potential huge back ups in the loading and unloading of the container ships, but is too late in detecting the presence of nuclear material or suspected shielded containers.

A problem with detecting nuclear and fissile materials shielded in containers using only container manifest information or container source / destination data are potential transshipment diversionary tactics.

The likelihood of detecting such a container by spot check active scanning and limited manifest information or container source / destination data is very low.

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