Mobile radiation surveillance network

• US 20050104773A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christopher James Mcinnis Clarke, Robert Cassin Mcfadden, Shannon Dinesh Lal
• Original Assignee: Christopher James Mcinnis Clarke, Robert Cassin Mcfadden, Shannon Dinesh Lal
• Inventors: Clarke, Christopher James McInnis, McFadden, Robert Cassin, Lal, Shannon Dinesh
• Application Number:
  US10/867,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20050104773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.750
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/169 Exploration, location of contaminated surface areas
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms

Abstract

A detection system and method having at least one detection unit, and a control centre unit. The detection unit includes at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data correlated to sensed conditions, a locator for actively determining location data corresponding to the location of the detection unit, and a communicator configured to communicate the sensor data and location data. The control centre includes a receiver for receiving the sensor data and the location data, together with a control processor which is configured to determine a threat level correlated to the sensor data.

Claims

1. A detection system comprising:

a) at least one detection unit, wherein the detection unit comprises;

i) at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data correlated to sensed conditions;

ii) locator for actively determining location data corresponding to the location of the detection unit;

iii) a communicator configured to communicate the sensor data and the location data

b) a control centre, wherein the control centre comprises;

i) a receiver for receiving the sensor data and the location data;

ii) a control processor configured to determine a threat level correlated to the sensor data.

2. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising a communications network configured to provide a communications link between the communicator and the receiver.

3. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the detection unit further comprises a timer for generating timing data correlated to the time at which the sensor data is generated.

4. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising a data storage unit configured to store threshold data.

5. The detection system of claim 4, wherein the threshold data is correlated to previously stored sensor data and correlated location data.

6. The detection system of claim 4, wherein the threshold data comprises at least one data point corresponding to a predetermined threshold level.

7. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising a monitor operatively coupled to the control processor, wherein the monitor is configured to generate a graphical display correlated to the sensor data and corresponding location data.

8. The detection system of claim 7, wherein the graphical display comprises a map.

9. A detection unit comprising:

a) at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data correlated to sensed conditions;

b) a locator configured to actively determine location data corresponding to the location of the detection unit;

c) a communicator operatively coupled to the sensor and to the locator, and configured to communicate the sensor data and location data.

10. The detection unit of claim 9, further comprising a timer for generating timing data correlated to the time at which the sensor data is generated.

11. The detection unit of claim 9, further comprising a data storage unit configured to store threshold data.

12. The detection unit of claim 11, wherein the threshold data is correlated to previously stored sensor data and correlated location data.

13. The detection unit of claim 11, wherein the threshold data comprises at least one data point corresponding to a predetermined threshold level.

14. The detection unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the location determining means comprises a global positioning system.

15. The detection unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense at least one from the following set of types of agents:

chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear.

16. A method of detecting threatening conditions, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a control centre;

b) providing at least one mobile detection unit, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data correlated to sensed conditions;

c) actively determining location data corresponding to the location of the detection unit;

d) communicating the sensor data and the location data to the control centre;

e) determining a threat level correlated to the sensor data.

17. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the step of generating a graphical display correlated to both the sensor data and the location data.