This question was interpreted as a need for a device that alarms when it detects unusually high levels of radiation within a household. The device was broken up into four subsystems: detector, alarm, power, and structure. The detector detects background ionizing radiation and gives an analyzable output to the alarm in the form of a count rate. The alarm processes the detector output and raises an alarm if there is a statistically significant increase in count rate. The power supply converts current from a standard US wall outlet to the voltage required by the detector and alarm systems and provides backup power in case of a blackout. Lastly, the structure houses and protects all of the other systems in case the alarm falls.
Team: Heidi Niskanen, Noah Augustine, Jacqueline Schings, Alexander Roaldsand, Deborah Lark
Project Motivation
Situations like the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster have made the public aware that mistakes can be made in the handling of nuclear materials. High scale nuclear material mistakes have results that can be observed around the world. Having knowledge of this, the question has been raised: How radiologically safe is the average home?
Project Description
This question was interpreted as a need for a device that alarms when it detects unusually high levels of radiation within a household. The device was broken up into four subsystems: detector, alarm, power, and structure. The detector detects background ionizing radiation and gives an analyzable output to the alarm in the form of a count rate. The alarm processes the detector output and raises an alarm if there is a statistically significant increase in count rate. The power supply converts current from a standard US wall outlet to the voltage required by the detector and alarm systems and provides backup power in case of a blackout. Lastly, the structure houses and protects all of the other systems in case the alarm falls.