Radioactive Substance Mapping via Moving Vehicle Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques lack the capability to quickly produce a distribution map of radioactive substances over a wide area, such as in the event of an accident at an atomic power plant.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a radiation detector mounted on a moving vehicle, a position measuring unit, and a distribution map producing apparatus that combines measurement data from multiple positions to create a distribution map of radioactive substances, utilizing a Compton camera or pinhole camera for wide-range detection and energy measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional radiation detectors are used to measure radioactive substances in wide areas, then the measurement range is limited, but the system complexity and cost increase when multiple detectors are deployed to expand coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by mounting the radiation detector on a moving vehicle that travels through the target area. This transforms the measurement system from static to dynamic, allowing a single detector to cover wide areas by changing its position over time. The moving vehicle carries the detector along predetermined routes, enabling comprehensive area coverage without deploying multiple fixed detectors, thus reducing system complexity while expanding measurement range.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional radiation detectors are used to cover wide areas, then the measurement time increases, but using a single moving detector reduces measurement efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous useful action by having the moving vehicle travel along predetermined routes that ensure continuous data collection throughout the target area. The radiation detector continuously measures radioactive substances during the vehicle's movement, and the system accumulates measurement data from multiple positions without interruption. This continuous measurement approach minimizes total measurement time while achieving comprehensive area coverage, as the detector is constantly gathering useful data throughout its travel path.
3Productivity
If multiple radiation detectors are deployed to map wide areas quickly, then the productivity increases, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dynamics principle to replace multiple static detectors with a single moving detector. By mounting the detector on a vehicle that moves through the target area along predetermined routes, the system achieves wide area coverage and quick mapping without deploying multiple detectors. The movement capability allows one detector to sequentially measure different locations, maintaining productivity while significantly reducing the quantity of detectors needed.
4Device complexity
If a single radiation detector is used on a moving vehicle, then the system simplicity and cost-effectiveness improve, but the ability to capture three-dimensional distribution data becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dimensionality change principle by utilizing the movement of the vehicle through space to add a temporal and spatial dimension to the measurements. As the vehicle moves along predetermined three-dimensional routes, the single detector collects data from multiple positions and angles. The computer processing unit combines these measurements from different spatial locations and times to reconstruct three-dimensional distribution maps of radioactive substances, achieving accurate 3D mapping with a single detector through multi-dimensional data integration.
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 the rapid production of accurate 3-dimensional distribution maps of radioactive substances in wide areas, reducing measurement time and radiation exposure, while allowing for flexible and cost-effective monitoring without the need for multiple detectors.
Implementation Method 1
The Compton camera utilizes the principle of Compton scattering in which gamma radiation has the nature of a particle
Data Source
AI summary
A radioactive substance distribution map producing system includes a radiation detector, a position measuring unit and a radioactive substance distribution map producing apparatus. The radiation detector is loaded on a moving vehicle and measures radiations from radioactive substances. The position measuring unit measures a position of the moving vehicle. The radioactive substance distribution map producing apparatus receives measurement data which contains a measurement result by the radiation detector and position data of the moving vehicle measured by the position measuring unit. The radioactive substance distribution map producing apparatus produces a distribution map of the radioactive substances by using the measurement data obtained at the plurality of positions while the moving vehicle moves.