radioactivity measurements using embedded processing
DESCRIPTION
Radioactivity measurements using embedded processing. Aran Mol, INCAS 3. What is INCAS³?. A private research institute Driven by industry and social demands Full development cycle from needs analyses to product Strong international academic and industrial network. Example projects. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Radioactivity measurements using embedded processing
Aran Mol, INCAS3
July 6th 2014 TIPP2014 Amsterdam
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What is INCAS³?• A private research institute
• Driven by industry and social demands
• Full development cycle from needs analyses to product
• Strong international academic and industrial network
July 6th 2014 TIPP2014 Amsterdam
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Example projectsAgroBot
RoboShip
SinBot
Other examples:
SPRINT – Balance training for elderly people
MoreWise – Mapping underground oil reservoirs
Panic detection – Automatic classification of sound events
ENSA/DROPS – Monitoring (natural) radioactivityJuly 6th 2014 TIPP2014 Amsterdam
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Radiation detection
• Focus on low levels of (natural) radioactivity• Many applications
• Geophysics• Oil & Gas• Medical• Environmental• Security• …
April 2nd 2014 TIPP2014 Amsterdam
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Challenge = to “sensorize”
• Move “acquisition chain” to embedded solution
• In our case:• Embed detector drift feedback algorithms• Embed spectral processing algorithms• Embed data storage• Embed data visualization
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System philosophy
• Early digitization• Local processing, self diagnostics, calibration
Environment Transducer Embedded processing
InformationADC
Control
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Detector system
• Complex sensor• Modular approach
24Gb/s
FPGA
+V
-V
ADC
±1.0 V500MHz spectra activity concentrations
NaI
July 6th 2014 TIPP2014 Amsterdam
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System overview• Modules in stack• 3 main boards
• Fast ADC board• FPGA board• ARM board
• 1 for additional functionality
• Additional DACs & ADCs• Connectivity• GPS
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ADC board• Signal conditioning
• Single-ended• Balanced• Amplification
• Digitization• 2 GHz; 12 bit; single channel
+V
-V
ADC
Analog signalRegister settings
Digital data
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FPGA board• Event detection• Event descriptor extraction
• Energy• Time of detection• ...
• Performance parameters• Signal stability• Baseline tracking• Noise tracking• Pile-up rejection
FPGA
Spectra or raw dataRegister readoutADC settingsClock signalsPower
ADC dataparameters
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FPGA board - signal analysis
• Parameters set at runtime by user
• Dead time: 1.14 µs (maximum)
Time (a.u.)
Ampl
itude
(a.u
.)signalMWDMA
FIR - MWD FIR - MA
baseline amplitude
histogram
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ARM board• Ethernet connection• Temperature
stabilization of spectrum• Full spectrum analysis• C++ code on Linux
buildroot• Interface server
Measured spectra & raw dataHV readoutRegister readoutUser settings
ActivitiesAnalyzed spectraRaw dataParameters
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• Calibrated reference spectra for U, K, Th, (+ Rn)• Weights to equalize the errors• Yields activity concentrations and accuracy of
estimation
ARM board - FSA
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Full-Spectrum-Analysis
𝐀=(𝐲𝐖 )∙(𝐗𝐖 )T ∙ ((𝐗T𝐖 ) ∙(𝐗𝐖 ))− 1
𝐖=1
√𝐗𝐀
𝐮=1
√𝐖𝐗T𝐖𝐗
Activity
Uncertaint
y
Weight factors
𝐖𝐲=𝐖𝐀𝐗
July 6th 2014 TIPP2014 Amsterdam
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Calibration procedure• Volume source: semi-
infinite brick castle• MCNPX simulations used to
determine detector response
• With detector response known, standard spectra can be calculated for any isotope and geometry
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Precision
• Energy resolution of detector: 7.0 % at 662 keV
• Very accurate activity estimations
• Very small nonlinear term
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Interface
• Web server • Easily accessible• Easily changed
• Tabs:• Live view• Settings• Data storage• System lineage
July 6th 2014 TIPP2014 Amsterdam
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• Dynamic Rain Observation & Parametrization System
• High-school collaboration project
• Study correlation between weather and radon activity
DROPS project222Rn
222Rn
222Rn
July 6th 2014 TIPP2014 Amsterdam
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DROPS results
• Continuous dataset from 22 July to 22 October
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Ongoing work...• Continued development of detector electronics &
scintillator signal processing• Testing & certification
• Field testing Canada• Temperature and mechanical stability testing
• Advanced real time analysis & control• Pile up correction
• Pulse shape discrimination• Neutron detection
• Improve fitting procedure
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Applications
• Environmental monitoring• Pilot: Uranium mining Canada
• Precision farming• Soil content in sugar beet harvesting
• Nuclear reactor monitoring• First tests expected this year
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Thank you
INCAS3 is sponsored by:
July 6th 2014 TIPP2014 Amsterdam