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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority to provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/128,947, entitled “Floating Intelligent Perimeter Sensor”, filed on May 27, 2008, and is also a continuation-in-part of and claims priority from, prior co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/564,193 entitled “Multi-Stage System for Verification of Container Contents”, filed on Nov. 28, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority from, prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/291,574, filed on Dec. 1, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority from, prior co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/280,255, filed on Oct. 25, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,982 issued on Feb. 28, 2006, and that was based on prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/347,997, filed on Oct. 26, 2001; and this application is also a continuation-in-part of and claims priority from, prior co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/852,835 entitled “Distributed Sensor Network With A Common Processing Platform For CBMRNE Devices And Novel Applications”, filed on Nov. 28, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/624,089 filed on Jan. 17, 2007, entitled “System Integration Module For CBRNE Sensors”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,269,527; the collective entire disclosure of which being hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of sensors and detectors for detection of hazardous materials such as radiological materials, fissile materials, explosives, chemicals and biological materials (CBRNE), and more particularly relates to a floating perimeter sensor system deployed as part of waterways surveillance for detecting, and optionally identifying, hazardous materials about the floating perimeter sensors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hazardous material detection is an integral part of safeguarding our well being from the threats of domestic and foreign terror. Current perimeter protection systems for critical infrastructures that reside on harbors and waterways do not integrate chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosives CBRNE sensors. The need for early warning sensor devices in protection of critical infrastructures such as nuclear power plants, oil refineries, oil terminals and city front areas is important in protection against terrorist attacks. 
     Therefore a need exists to overcome these problems as discussed above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, one or more floating intelligent perimeter sensors (FIPS) are configured as part of a sensor network, which can optionally be deployed as part of a sensor network applied in conjunction with a waterway perimeter barrier system. The FIPS have one or more sensors of hazardous materials. The sensors are integrated into their FIPS structure and deployed using at least one “Sensor Integration Unit” such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,269,527. The FIPS may utilize a wide variety of data transmission methods such as Ethernet, Fiber Optics or wireless technologies for communications of sensor and alarm data and remote communications with the FIPS. 
     One embodiment of the invention comprises the deployment of one or more gamma and neutron detectors in each of one or more FIPS, and the deployment of these sensor systems along water channel or waterway choke points. The FIPS system could also be inserted into a line-up of floating devices used as a perimeter barrier. The FIPS units include sensors and/or detectors that can be used to inspect boats or vessels in a detection area about the FIPS units. Certain sensors in the FIPS are designed utilizing materials with scintillation detection for the presence of gamma and neutron materials. The FIPS gamma detectors may also provide spectral data for processing and analysis to determine the specific isotope that is present. The FIPS gamma radiation detectors and neutron radiation detectors can be used to detect and identify radioactive and/or fissile materials present in a detection area about the FIPS detectors. Each of the FIPS devices deployed could utilize Ethernet connections or wireless communications in an ad-hoc network configuration to relay the information between the FIPS devices, to a remote processor or from a remote processor to an individual FIPS device. Each FIPS device would have a specific TCP/IP address and could also have a GPS positioning system for FIPS device identification. The FIPS flotation sensor system could have self-container power or could be configured to have a power line extended to the system from an external power source. 
     The detection of radiation of fissile materials could indicate the presence of a dirty bomb. The identification of the specific isotope(s) that are present allows the FIPS system to more accurately identify the potential threat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of one example use of flotation devices for perimeter security with intelligent perimeter sensors units dispersed as part of a barrier, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a general overview of an example of a sensor system operating environment, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing one example of a sensor array arrangement for integration in a floating intelligent perimeter sensor, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a pictorial representation of one example use of flotation devices for perimeter security with intelligent perimeter sensors units dispersed as part of a perimeter surveillance system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a pictorial representation of a moving piston power generation system useful for providing power to a floating intelligent perimeter sensor, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
     The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms “sensor” and “detector” are used herein interchangeably. 
     The terms “program”, “computer program”, “software application”, and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A program, computer program, or software application may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A data storage means, as defined herein, includes many different types of computer readable media that allow a computer to read data therefrom and that maintain the data stored for the computer to be able to read the data again. Such data storage means can include, for example, non-volatile memory, such as ROM, Flash memory, battery backed-up RAM, Disk drive memory, CD-ROM, DVD, and other permanent storage media. However, even volatile storage such as RAM, buffers, cache memory, and network circuits are contemplated to serve as such data storage means according to different embodiments of the present invention. 
     The present invention, according to one embodiment, overcomes problems with the prior art by providing a Floating Intelligent Perimeter Sensor (FIPS) that can be deployed as one or more buoys that are part of a perimeter sensor system, and that optionally may include a barricade. The present invention, according to various embodiments, provides for: (1) an ability to detect chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosives materials when in general proximity; (2) an ability to transmit sensor data and alarms to a remote terminal or operations center; (3) establishing a data network with individual FIPS sensors associated with individual TCP/IP addresses to network-enable specific data analysis and communications with specific FIPS sensor units; (4) spectral data acquisition and analysis for identification of the CBRNE materials; and (5) an ability to communicate detector data via an internet connection between network-enabled radiation detectors and multiple users that can obtain detector data from individual detectors thereby providing a web-detector accessible by multiple remotely located users. 
     One embodiment of the invention includes gamma and neutron sensors that can be deployed in a distributed sensor network as part of a floating perimeter protection system. The gamma and neutron sensors are integrated into the FIPS unit and use wire-line and/or wireless communications between each of the FIPS units. The FIPS units could be deployed using an ad-hoc wireless network strategy to quickly establish a redundant path network to a remote terminal or operations center. 
     A wireless ad hoc network is a decentralized wireless network. The network is ad hoc because each node is willing to forward data for other nodes, and so the determination of which nodes forward data is made dynamically based on the network connectivity. This is in contrast to wired networks in which routers perform the task of routing. Network topology also could dynamically vary between nodes based at least on available communication links between nodes in an ad hoc network. 
     The FIPS unit  301  can be battery powered, such as with rechargeable batteries  306  ( FIG. 3 ), with power generation systems to maintain extended operations. One such energy generation system  502  is electrically coupled to the sensor system, such as shown in  FIG. 5 . This example of a motion power generator  502  utilizes a free moving piston generator  504  that generates an electrical current from the motion  506  of the prime mover (piston)  504  of the generator. The piston is caused to move  506 , according to one embodiment of the invention, by a float portion mechanically coupled to the piston portion and responsive to wave motion of the surrounding waters about the piston generator  504  and the FIPS unit  301  floating as a buoy. The generator is based on the principle of “electromagnetic induction” where an electric conductor is moved through a magnetic field thereby producing electric current. Solar panels (not shown) could also be used as a power generator. Alternatively, an ac or dc power connection, such as via electrical power network interconnection with individual FIPS units  301 , can provide electric power to any of the individual FIPS units  301  from an external electrical power source. 
     Also, a combination of one or more moving piston generators  504 , one or more solar panels, and optionally combined with other power generation technology implemented with the FIPS units  301 , could be used to collectively maintain power generation to the one or more FIPS units and associated rechargeable batteries  306 , under varying ambient weather and ocean wave conditions. For example, if solar energy is not available to provide power via one or more solar panels, the one or more moving piston generators  504  can supply electric energy to the one or more FIPS units and the one or more rechargeable batteries  306 . Alternatively, if the water wave action is not available to provide enough motion to the one or more moving piston generators  504 , and there is solar energy available, then the one or more solar panels can supply the electric energy. Additionally, according to one embodiment, the various power generators can be spread out about various FIPS units in a network and electrically interconnected such that electric power can be shared between individual FIPS units and respective associated rechargeable batteries  306 . When a first FIPS unit  301  has sufficient power to recharge its one or more batteries  306  and power its electric requirements, excess electric energy can be distributed into the electrical interconnection power network to supply other FIPS units  301 . In this way, as water wave action varies between locations of individual FIPS units  301  and available solar energy varies between locations of individual FIPS units  301 , the cumulative electric power generation of all generators can be shared and distributed between the FIPS units that are electrically interconnected in an electrical power network. 
     Moreover, sensor data from individual FIPS units can be transmitted via the electrical power network interconnecting the various FIPS units. In this way, any of the FIPS units can include a communication controller that communicates with one or more Sensor Interface Units (SIUs) in the one or more FIPS units  301 , and then the sensor data can be wirelessly transmitted to a remote monitoring system, such as via a network  216  (see  FIG. 2 ) 
     The sensors are connected via a Sensor Interface Unit (SIU) that provides the calibration, automated gain control, calibration verification, remote diagnostics and connectivity to a processor for spectral analysis of the sensor data. A controllable power supply includes software controls that are controllable by a controller to adjust the power supplied to individual sensors and/or detectors, such as for calibration of the operation of these sensors and/or detectors. Analog signal from individual sensors and/or detectors is converted to digital data via at least one analog signal to digital data converter in the SIU. The sensor digital data from the SIU is communicated from the SIU to a network link  216  that communicates the network-enabled digital data with a digital data collection system  210 . An example of the SIU is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,269,527 entitled “System Integration Module for CBRNE Sensors”, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     Various sensors may also be shielded from electro-magnetic-interference (EMI). A data collection system, communicatively coupled with each sensor device, collects signals from the sensor devices. The collected data signals represent whether each sensor device has detected, for example, gamma or neutron radiation. Optionally, a remote monitoring system is communicatively coupled with the data collection system to remotely monitor the collected signals from the sensor devices and thereby, for example, remotely determine whether one or more gamma or neutron sensor devices from the array have provided gamma radiation data or neutron radiation data, and a spectral analysis system identifies the specific isotopes detected by the sensors, as will be more fully discussed below. A user interface provides sensor related data, such as a graphic presentation of the data from each sensor and/or group of sensors, the detection of radiation, and the identification of the one or more isotopes detected by the sensors. 
     Described now is an example of a FIPS unit capable of radiation detection and isotope identification, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
     An example deployment of Floating Intelligent Perimeter Sensor (FIPS) units in a sensor and barrier system  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . One or more FIPS units  101  are deployed at strategic locations in floating perimeter barriers  104  in the system  100 .  FIG. 4  shows a second example of a deployment of FIPS units  401 , in this sensor system being deployed in a water channel or waterway. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , a data collection system  210 , in this example, is communicatively coupled via cabling, wireless communication link, and/or other communication link  216  with each of the gamma radiation sensor devices  201  and neutron sensor devices  202  in each sensor unit. In one embodiment, one or more sensor units include neutron pulse sensor device(s)  202 . The data collection system  210  includes an information processing system that communicates via a communication interface  213 , and via the network  216 , with data communication interfaces  224  that collect signals from the various radiation sensor units  201 ,  202 , and the neutron pulse device(s)  203 . The collected signals, in this example, represent detailed spectral data from each sensor device that has detected radiation. 
     The data collection system  210  is modular in design and can be used specifically for radiation detection and identification, and/or for data collection for explosives and special materials detection and identification. Additionally, it can be used for data collection for detection of chemicals and biological materials via respective sensors associated with the FIPS units. 
     The data collection system  210  is communicatively coupled with a local controller and monitor system  212 . The local system  212  comprises an information processing system that includes a computer, memory, storage, and a user interface  214  such as a display on a monitor and a keyboard, or other user input/output device. In this example, the local system  212  also includes a multi-channel analyzer (MCA)  230  and a spectral analyzer  240 . 
     The multi-channel analyzer (MCA)  230  comprises a device composed of many single channel analyzers (SCA). The single channel analyzer interrogates analog signals received from the individual radiation detectors  201 ,  202 , and determines whether the specific energy range of the received signal is equal to the range identified by the single channel. If the energy received is within the SCA the SCA counter is updated. It should be noted that, according to one embodiment, a peak detector is incorporated into at least one gamma radiation detector to identify a detected energy range of radiation data from the detector. According to one embodiment, a peak detector is incorporated into the multi-channel analyzer  230  to identify a detected energy range of radiation data from one or more radiation detectors. Over time, the SCA counts are accumulated. At a specific time interval, the multi-channel analyzer  230  includes a number of SCA counts, which result in the creation of a histogram. The histogram represents the spectral image of the radiation that is present. The MCA  230 , according to one example, uses analog to digital converters combined with computer memory that is equivalent to thousands of SCAs and counters and is dramatically more powerful and cheaper. Additionally, in one embodiment, the multi-channel analyzer uses a reference signal associated with the one or more gamma radiation detectors to adjust the collected spectral radiation detector data from the one or more gamma radiation detectors to obtain calibration of the collected spectral radiation detector data. 
     The histogram is used by the spectral analysis system  240 , in one example, to identify isotopes that are present in materials in general proximity to the FIPS units. One of the functions performed by the information processing system  212  is spectral analysis, performed by the spectral analyzer  240 , to identify the one or more isotopes, explosives or special materials. The spectral analysis system, according to one embodiment, comprises a pattern recognition system using spectral analysis to identify CBRNE materials. The spectral analysis system, according to one embodiment, comprises a static or dynamic background analysis and subtraction method for spectral analysis and/or peak detection methods used to identify CBRNE materials. According to one embodiment, the spectral analyzer includes a pulse shape differentiation method employed to filter noise from radiation detector data received from a neutron detector. With respect to radiation detection, the spectral analyzer  240  compares one or more spectral images of the radiation present to known isotopes that are represented by one or more spectral images  250  stored in the isotope database  222 . By capturing multiple variations of spectral data for each isotope there are numerous images that can be compared to one or more spectral images of the radiation present. The isotope database  222  holds the one or more spectral images  250  of each isotope to be identified. These multiple spectral images represent various levels of acquisition of spectral radiation data so isotopes can be compared and identified using various amounts of spectral data available from the one or more sensors. Whether there are small amounts (or large amounts) of data acquired from the sensor, the spectral analysis system  240  compares the acquired radiation data from the sensor to one or more spectral images  250  for each isotope to be identified. This significantly enhances the reliability and efficiency of matching acquired spectral image data from the sensor to spectral image data of each possible isotope to be identified. 
     Once the one or more possible isotopes are determined present in the radiation detected by the sensor(s), the information processing system  212  can compare the isotope mix against possible materials, goods, and/or products, that may be present in a vessel under examination. Additionally, a manifest database  223  includes a detailed description of the contents of each known vessel that is to be examined. The manifest  223  can be referred to by the information processing system  212  to determine whether the possible materials, goods, and/or products, contained in the vessel under examination match the expected authorized materials, goods, and/or products, described in the manifest  223  for the particular vessel under examination. This matching process, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is significantly more efficient and reliable than any other monitoring process in the past. 
     The spectral analysis system  240 , according to an embodiment, includes an information processing system and software that analyzes the data collected and identifies the isotopes that are present. The spectral analysis software consists of more that one method to provide multi-confirmation of the isotopes identified. Should more than one isotope be present, the system identifies the ratio of each isotope present. Examples of methods that can be used for spectral analysis such as in the spectral analysis software according to an embodiment of a container contents verification system, include: 1) a margin setting method as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,731; and 2) a LINSCAN method (a linear analysis of spectra method) as described in U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/624,067, filed on Jan. 17, 2006, by inventor David L. Frank, and entitled “Method For Determination Of Constituents Present From Radiation Spectra And, If Available, Neutron And Alpha Occurrences”; the collective entire teachings of which being herein incorporated by reference. 
     The user interface  214 , for example, can present to a user a representation of the collected received returning signals, or the identified possible explosives and/or special materials in the shipping vessel under examination, or any system identified unauthorized explosives and/or special materials contained within the shipping vessel under examination, or any combination thereof. 
     The data collection system  210  can also be communicatively coupled with a remote control and monitoring system  218  such as via a network  216 . The remote system  218  comprises an information processing system that has a computer, memory, storage, and a user interface  220  such as a display on a monitor and a keyboard, or other user input/output device. The network  216  comprises any number of local area networks and/or wide area networks. It can include wired and/or wireless communication networks. This network communication technology is well known in the art. The user interface  220  allows remotely located service or supervisory personnel to operate the local system  212  and to monitor the status of vessel verification by the collection of sensor units  201 ,  202  and  203  deployed at the FIPS units  101 ,  401 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an example of a Floating Intelligent Perimeter Sensor unit  301  includes a gamma detector  305 , a neutron detector and moderator  304 , and supported by a sensor interface unit (SIU), a wireless communication device, and high voltage power unit, collectively referred to as module  302 . The wireless communication device provides wireless communications via wireless communication link  216 . The high voltage power unit provides for power, such as including for powering rechargeable batteries  306 , for powering operations and functions of the FIPS unit  301 . 
     By operating the system remotely, such as from a central monitoring location, a larger number of sites can be safely monitored by a limited number of supervisory personnel. 
     Various preferred embodiments of the present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. A system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system—or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein—is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. 
     One embodiment, according to the present invention, can also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which—when loaded in a computer system—is able to carry out these methods. Computer program means or computer program in the present context mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following a) conversion to another language, code or, notation; and b) reproduction in a different material form. 
     Each computer system may include one or more computers and at least a computer readable medium allowing a computer to read data, instructions, messages or message packets, and other computer readable information from the computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may include non-volatile memory, such as ROM, Flash memory, Disk drive memory, CD-ROM, and other permanent storage. Additionally, a computer readable medium may include, for example, volatile storage such as RAM, buffers, cache memory, and network circuits. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the computer readable medium may comprise computer readable information in a transitory state medium such as a network link and/or a network interface, including a wired network or a wireless network that allows a computer to read such computer readable information. 
     Additionally, the following patents are referenced and used as part of the collective teachings herein: 1) a method and system for analyzing the contents of a container as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,982 “Carrier Security System”; and 2) a method and system for analyzing the contents of a container as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,142,109 “Container Verification System for Non-Invasive Detection of Contents”; and 3) a method and system for analyzing the contents of a container as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/564/193 “Multi-Stage System for Verification of Container Contents”; the collective teachings of which being herein incorporated by reference. 
     Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.