Passive Radiation Alerting Garment with Tactile Directional Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal radiation detectors (PRDs) used by law enforcement officers are inconvenient as they require attention diversion to interpret alarms, lack directional information for radiation sources, and are noticeable, putting officers at a tactical disadvantage and unable to safely relocate civilians.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a garment with sensors and tactile feedback devices that automatically indicate the direction of radiation sources without user intervention, providing directional information and alerting without revealing the detection to others, and allowing for passive detection and positioning of radiation, biological, or chemical threats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a PRD alarm is used to detect radiation, then radiation detection capability is improved, but the officer must divert attention to interpret the alarm which worsens tactical response time
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses tactile feedback devices that provide immediate physical sensation alerts to the officer's body, creating a direct feedback loop that eliminates the need to visually check displays. The tactile feedback immediately indicates radiation presence and direction through vibration patterns, allowing continuous situational awareness without attention diversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces visual display and interpretation mechanisms with tactile mechanical feedback. Instead of requiring the officer to read and interpret visual information from a display, the system uses vibration motors that physically indicate radiation status through tactile sensation, substituting a passive visual system with an active tactile communication system.
2Loss of information
If a PRD display is used to show radiation readings, then radiation information is provided, but the device becomes noticeable which worsens officer concealment
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the information display function from the public-facing exterior and relocates it to the officer's tactile sensory system. The radiation detection and processing components remain concealed within the garment, while the feedback is delivered through the officer's body, separating the information delivery mechanism from the external appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The officer's body serves as an intermediary medium for information transmission. Instead of displaying information externally on a visible screen, the system uses the officer's tactile sense as a private communication channel, with the garment acting as an intermediary that translates radiation data into bodily sensations that only the officer can perceive.
3Reliability
If a PRD is used to detect radiation exposure rate, then radiation presence is detected, but no directional information is provided which worsens source location capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the tactile feedback system into multiple independent vibration motors positioned at different locations on the garment (front, back, left, right). Each motor independently indicates radiation presence in its respective direction, allowing the officer to determine the source direction by identifying which body region experiences vibration. This spatial segmentation of feedback mechanisms provides directional information that a single centralized display cannot convey.
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
Enables law enforcement officers to detect and locate radiation sources without diverting attention, maintaining tactical awareness and safely relocating civilians, while keeping the detection process covert.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sensors configured to detect a presence of a source of radiation
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of tactile feedback devices configured to automatically indicate to the user, without intervention by the user, a direction of the source of radiation
Data Source
AI summary
According to one general aspect, an apparatus may include a plurality of sensors configured to detect a presence of a source of radiation. The apparatus may include a garment configured to be worn by a user. The garment may include a plurality of tactile feedback devices configured to automatically indicate to the user, without intervention by the user, a direction of the source of radiation.