FLOATING INTELLIGENT PERIMETER SENSOR SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A floating intelligent perimeter sensor system comprising:
- at least one buoy that floats when deployed in a waterway;
one or more gamma radiation detectors mechanically coupled with the buoy for detecting gamma radiation present in a detection area about the buoy;
one or more neutron detectors mechanically coupled with the buoy for detecting neutron radiation present in a detection area about the buoy;
an analog signal to digital data converter, communicatively coupled with at least one of the one or more gamma radiation detectors and the one or more neutron detectors;
a communications device, communicatively coupled with the analog signal to digital data converter, to communicate digital data from at least one of the one or more gamma radiation detectors and the one or more neutron detectors to a communications network;
a power supply, electrically coupled with the at least one of the one or more gamma radiation detectors and the one or more neutron detectors, to supply power to the at least one of the one or more gamma radiation detectors and the one or more neutron detectors, and the power supply including software controls that are controllable by a controller to adjust the power supplied to individual detectors for calibration of operation thereof;
a digital data collection system, communicatively coupled with the detectors, for collection of spectral radiation detector data from the detectors;
a multi-channel analyzer system, communicatively coupled with the digital data collection system, for preparing histograms of the collected spectral radiation detector data;
a spectral analysis system, communicatively coupled with the multi-channel analyzer system and the digital data collection system, for receiving and analyzing detector data including the collected spectral radiation detector data and the histograms to detect and to identify one or more chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and/or explosives (CBRNE) materials that are present within a detection area about the buoy;
a first data storage means for storing data representing CBRNE spectra for use by the spectral analysis system, where one or more spectral images stored in the first data storage unit represent one or more isotopes, the first data storage means being communicatively coupled with the spectral analysis system;
an information processing system, communicatively coupled with the spectral analysis system, for analyzing the identified one or more CBRNE materials to determine possible materials or goods that they represent; and
a second data storage means for storing data representing a manifest relating to a known vessel under examination, the second data storage means being communicatively coupled with the information processing system, the information processing system further for comparing the determined possible materials or goods with a manifest relating to the known vessel under examination to determine if there are unauthorized materials or goods contained within the known vessel under examination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and floating intelligent perimeter sensor, provide protection for waterways and critical infrastructures. The system and method utilize one or more floating intelligent perimeter sensors to detect, and in some cases identify, hazardous materials associated with vessels in the waterways. The hazardous materials detected, and optionally identified, can include radiological materials, fissile materials, explosives, chemicals and biological materials (CBRNE). A set of radiation data associated with a radiation source in a vessel is received from the one or more floating intelligent perimeter sensors. At least one histogram is generated based on the set of radiation data. The at least one histogram is compared to multiple spectral images associated with known materials. The at least one histogram is determined to substantially match at least one of the multiple spectral images. A determination is made whether a material associated with the radiation source is a hazardous material.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A floating intelligent perimeter sensor system comprising:
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at least one buoy that floats when deployed in a waterway; one or more gamma radiation detectors mechanically coupled with the buoy for detecting gamma radiation present in a detection area about the buoy; one or more neutron detectors mechanically coupled with the buoy for detecting neutron radiation present in a detection area about the buoy; an analog signal to digital data converter, communicatively coupled with at least one of the one or more gamma radiation detectors and the one or more neutron detectors; a communications device, communicatively coupled with the analog signal to digital data converter, to communicate digital data from at least one of the one or more gamma radiation detectors and the one or more neutron detectors to a communications network; a power supply, electrically coupled with the at least one of the one or more gamma radiation detectors and the one or more neutron detectors, to supply power to the at least one of the one or more gamma radiation detectors and the one or more neutron detectors, and the power supply including software controls that are controllable by a controller to adjust the power supplied to individual detectors for calibration of operation thereof; a digital data collection system, communicatively coupled with the detectors, for collection of spectral radiation detector data from the detectors; a multi-channel analyzer system, communicatively coupled with the digital data collection system, for preparing histograms of the collected spectral radiation detector data; a spectral analysis system, communicatively coupled with the multi-channel analyzer system and the digital data collection system, for receiving and analyzing detector data including the collected spectral radiation detector data and the histograms to detect and to identify one or more chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and/or explosives (CBRNE) materials that are present within a detection area about the buoy; a first data storage means for storing data representing CBRNE spectra for use by the spectral analysis system, where one or more spectral images stored in the first data storage unit represent one or more isotopes, the first data storage means being communicatively coupled with the spectral analysis system; an information processing system, communicatively coupled with the spectral analysis system, for analyzing the identified one or more CBRNE materials to determine possible materials or goods that they represent; and a second data storage means for storing data representing a manifest relating to a known vessel under examination, the second data storage means being communicatively coupled with the information processing system, the information processing system further for comparing the determined possible materials or goods with a manifest relating to the known vessel under examination to determine if there are unauthorized materials or goods contained within the known vessel under examination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method, with a floating intelligent perimeter sensor, for detecting hazardous materials in a detection area about the sensor, the method comprising:
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floating in a waterway at least one floating intelligent perimeter sensor (FIPS); detecting, with the FIPS, at least one of gamma radiation and neutron radiation present in a detection area about the FIPS, the detected at least one of gamma radiation and neutron radiation being associated with a vessel under examination in the waterway; collecting digital data representing at least one spectral image of the detected at least one of gamma radiation and neutron radiation; spectrally analyzing and comparing the at least one spectral image to one or more spectral images representing one or more isotopes; determining, based on the spectrally analyzing and comparing, whether one or more isotopes are present in the detection area; determining whether these isotopes present in the detection area are associated with any known hazardous materials; and determining whether the vessel under examination is unauthorized to transport materials or goods comprising the any known hazardous materials. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification