Portable Survey Meter Positioning via Range Sensor Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining radiation distribution in facilities with radioactive materials require bulky equipment and external references, making them impractical in contaminated environments and challenging to repeat surveys accurately without matching previous measurement positions.
Innovation Solution
A portable survey meter equipped with a radiation detector and range sensors that use algorithms to determine its position relative to real-world structures, allowing for spatially registered radiological measurements independent of external inputs, and capable of generating 3D models without pre-known facility maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional radiation survey methods are used, then radiation measurements can be taken, but the equipment is bulky and requires external references that are not available in contaminated environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the radiation detector, range sensor, and position determination algorithm into a single integrated portable survey meter. This merging eliminates the need for separate bulky equipment and external references, allowing the device to autonomously determine its position and perform radiation measurements in contaminated environments without external support structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The survey meter uses its own range sensor to measure distances to real-world structures and algorithms to determine its instantaneous position. The device serves itself by autonomously establishing reference frames and tracking its position without requiring external references or manual surveyor notes, enabling independent operation in contaminated areas.
2Reliability
If repeat surveys are conducted to track radiation changes, then radiation distribution can be monitored over time, but it is difficult to return to exact previous measurement positions
Solution Approach 1:
The survey meter continuously measures its position relative to real-world structures using range sensors and feeds this information back to the processing algorithm. This feedback mechanism allows the device to track its instantaneous position with high precision and return to exact previous measurement locations during repeat surveys, ensuring consistent spatial registration of radiation data over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary position determination by measuring distances to real-world structures and calculating its instantaneous position before taking radiation measurements. This preliminary action establishes an accurate reference frame that enables precise repeat surveys by ensuring the device returns to the exact same positions, as the position is determined relative to permanent structural features rather than temporary markers.
3Measurement precision
If traditional survey methods using markers and fixed reference points are used, then measurement positions can be identified, but the markers cannot be deployed in potentially contaminated environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses real-world structures (walls, floors, ceilings) as intermediary reference objects instead of artificial markers. The range sensor measures distances to these existing structures, which serve as stable, radiation-resistant reference points. This intermediary approach eliminates the need to deploy markers in contaminated areas while maintaining positional accuracy, as the real-world structures provide permanent reference frames that are unaffected by radiation contamination.
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 accurate and repeatable radiological surveys by aligning range data with reference data, reducing reliance on external references and improving positional accuracy, facilitating the collection of precise radiation data in potentially contaminated environments.
Implementation Method 1
The range sensor combines with software running the algorithm to determine the position of the portable survey meter relative to the real world structures
Implementation Method 2
the radiation detector is configured to perform measurements of ionising radiation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A portable survey meter for measuring radiation, the portable survey meter comprising: a radiation detector configured to perform measurements of radiation; a range sensor configured to measure range data of distances from the portable survey meter to real world structures in at least two dimensions; and a processing unit configured to align the measured range data with reference range data so as to determine an instantaneous position of the portable survey meter in at least two dimensions relative to the real world structures as a fixed frame of reference, whereby each measurement is performed at a known position.