Radiation Source Controller for Automated Vehicle Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation inspection systems for moving objects, such as vehicles, are inefficient as they require manual intervention to initiate and complete the scanning process, leading to prolonged inspection times and reduced vehicle passing rates.
Innovation Solution
A radiation inspection system with a controller that automatically emits a radiation beam upon detection of a moving object by multiple sensors, ensuring only valid targets are scanned, thereby eliminating the need for manual operation and enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operation is used to control radiation source emission, then operational simplicity is maintained, but inspection time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses detectors to automatically detect moving objects and triggers the radiation source to emit radiation automatically based on detection signals, eliminating the need for manual operation. The system serves itself by using the detectors' output signals to control the radiation source timing
Solution Approach 2:
The detectors provide feedback signals about the presence and position of moving objects, which are fed back to the control system to automatically adjust the radiation source emission timing. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables automatic control and improves inspection throughput
2Reliability
If radiation source emits continuously to ensure detection, then detection reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases and safety risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation source emits radiation periodically based on detection signals from the detectors rather than continuously. The emission occurs in synchronized pulses that correspond to the presence of moving objects in the inspection passage, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The detectors perform preliminary detection of moving objects before the radiation source emits. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare and trigger radiation emission only when needed, ensuring reliable detection while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption from continuous emission
3Device complexity
If single detector is used to trigger radiation emission, then device complexity is reduced, but false triggering increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is segmented into multiple detectors positioned at different locations in the inspection passage. Each detector monitors a specific zone, and the combination of their signals provides more accurate object detection and positioning, reducing false triggering while maintaining manageable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The outputs from multiple detectors are merged and processed together to generate the trigger signal for radiation emission. This combining of detection signals from multiple sources improves trigger accuracy and reliability by cross-validating the presence of moving objects before initiating radiation emission
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 significantly improves vehicle inspection efficiency, allowing more than 200 container lorries to be inspected per hour with enhanced safety and security, making it suitable for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation source disposed on a side of the inspection passage for emitting radiation
Implementation Method 2
an array of detectors disposed on the other side of the inspection passage opposite to the radiation source for receiving the radiation emitted from the radiation source
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A radiation inspection system is disclosed. The radiation inspection system comprises: an inspection passage through which a moving object under inspection can pass, a radiation source disposed on a side of the inspection passage for emitting radiation, an array of detectors disposed on the other side of the inspection passage opposite to the radiation source for receiving the radiation emitted from the radiation source, a detector for detecting the moving object, and a controller for receiving a signal from the detector and controlling the radiation source to emit radiation when the detector detects the moving object for radiation imaging and inspection of the moving object. According to the radiation inspection system, the controller can control the radiation source to automatically emit radiation beam based on the detection signal from the detector for inspecting the moving object. As a result, inspection efficiency is improved, safety is increased, and misoperation of the radiation source is eliminated.