Adaptive Radiation Scanning for Cargo Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
High energy radiation scanning systems for large objects like cargo containers expose workers, environments, and stowaways to unnecessary radiation due to the need for high doses over broad areas, increasing costs and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A radiation scanning method that adjusts the radiation dose based on real-time feedback from detectors, using high doses only where necessary, and varying beam characteristics such as energy, pulse repetition frequency, and pulse width to minimize exposure, while maintaining imaging quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high dose radiation beams are used to scan large cargo containers, then imaging quality and material discrimination are maintained, but radiation exposure to workers, environment, and stowaways increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different radiation doses to different regions of the cargo container based on local material characteristics. Pre-scanning identifies high-density regions requiring higher doses, while low-density regions receive reduced doses, maintaining imaging quality where needed while minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
A pre-scan is performed before the main imaging scan to identify regions of interest and determine optimal radiation dosing strategies. This preliminary action allows the system to plan the main scan to use high doses only where necessary for material discrimination, reducing overall radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic quality.
2Strength
If high energy MeV radiation sources are used to penetrate large cargo containers, then sufficient penetration power is achieved, but the radiological footprint and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes radiation beam parameters including energy level, pulse repetition frequency, and pulse width based on real-time feedback from pre-scan data. This allows optimization of penetration power for specific regions while minimizing the radiological footprint by using the lowest effective radiation parameters for each area.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiation scanning system transitions from static high-dose scanning to dynamic adaptive scanning where beam parameters are continuously adjusted during the scan based on material density feedback. This dynamic approach maintains sufficient penetration where needed while reducing the overall radiological footprint.
3Measurement precision
If uniform high dose radiation is applied across the entire container, then consistent imaging quality is achieved, but radiation waste and exposure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies radiation dosing tailored to local material characteristics identified in the pre-scan. High-density regions receive higher doses for adequate penetration and imaging quality, while low-density regions receive reduced doses, eliminating radiation waste without compromising imaging quality in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying uniform excessive radiation dose across the entire container, the system applies partial high-dose scanning only to regions where it is necessary for material discrimination. This selective approach reduces radiation waste while maintaining sufficient imaging quality for security inspection purposes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces radiation exposure by 10 times, decreases the radiological footprint, and allows for safer operation in populated areas without compromising image quality or material discrimination.
Implementation Method 1
Radiation transmitted through the object is attenuated to varying degrees by material between the radiation source and the detectors. The attenuation of the radiation is a function of the density of the materials through which the radiation beam passes.
Implementation Method 2
MeV radiation sources are typically required to generate radiation with sufficient energy to penetrate through standard 'cargo containers' and the larger air cargo containers.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for scanning objects comprising scanning a portion of an object by a first radiation beam having a first value of a beam characteristic, such as the dose, and detecting the first radiation beam after interaction with the object by a first detector. It is determined whether to change the first value to a second value based, at least in part, on the detected first radiation beam. That portion of the object is then scanned by a second radiation beam having the first value or the second value based on the determination. The second radiation is detected after interacting with the object by a second detector. The second detector may have a second resolution greater than a first resolution of the first detector. The first and second radiation beams may be formed by first and second slots angled with respect to each other.