Vehicle Cabin Inspection Beam Filtering for Dose and Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle inspection systems face challenges in balancing radiation dose exposure for users while effectively inspecting both cargo and cabin, with existing methods either limiting vehicle flow rate or failing to detect hidden objects in the cabin.
Innovation Solution
An inspection system that uses a filter to alternate between cargo and attenuation configurations, allowing for safe user exposure during cabin inspection while maintaining high vehicle flow rates and enabling detection of hidden objects in the cabin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If scanning mode is used to inspect the vehicle, then radiation dose to users is reduced, but vehicle flow rate decreases to around 20-25 vehicles per hour
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between scanning mode and pass-through mode based on the detected presence of users in the cabin. When users are detected, the system operates in scanning mode with reduced radiation dose and lower vehicle flow rate. When no users are present, it switches to pass-through mode with higher vehicle flow rate of 100-200 vehicles per hour, thus adapting the operational parameters to current conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the radiation emission parameters dynamically based on user presence detection. In scanning mode, radiation is emitted continuously during vehicle passage. In pass-through mode, radiation emission is delayed until after the vehicle has passed, fundamentally changing the temporal parameter of radiation application to resolve the contradiction between safety and efficiency.
2Productivity
If pass-through mode is used to increase vehicle flow rate to 100-200 vehicles per hour, then radiation dose to users is reduced, but cabin inspection capability is lost preventing detection of hidden objects
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between pass-through mode for high productivity and scanning mode for inspection capability based on user presence. This dynamic operation allows the system to achieve high vehicle flow rates when cabins are unoccupied while maintaining inspection capability when users are present.
Solution Approach 2:
A user detection system acts as an intermediary between the vehicle detection system and the radiation emission system. This intermediary determines the appropriate operational mode by detecting user presence, enabling the system to switch between pass-through mode (high flow rate) and scanning mode (inspection capability) based on real-time conditions.
3Measurement precision
If scanning mode is used to inspect the cabin, then hidden objects in the cabin can be detected, but vehicle flow rate decreases and inspection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temporal parameter of radiation emission based on user presence. In scanning mode, radiation is emitted during vehicle passage enabling inspection. In pass-through mode, radiation emission is delayed until after passage, reducing inspection time to effectively zero during the vehicle presence window, thus trading inspection time for throughput based on conditions.
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
The system effectively reduces radiation dose to users, increases vehicle flow rates, and allows for the detection of hidden objects in the cabin, complying with regulatory exposure limits and improving inspection efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a filter (102) configured to attenuate the radiation dose to a cabin inspection dose, enabling inspection by irradiation of the cabin (21) by the inspection beam (41)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
In an example, it is provided an inspection system having: a source configured to generate inspection radiation; a collimator configured to collimate the inspection radiation into an inspection beam configured to irradiate a section of a vehicle; a filter located between the source and the collimator, the filter having at least a cargo configuration and an attenuation configuration; and a controller configured to control the configuration of the filter, such that the filter is in the cargo configuration when the inspection beam irradiates the container, and in the attenuation configuration when the inspection beam irradiates the cabin.