Brion J. Burghard

Electronics system for the GammaTracker handheld CdZnTe detector

We are currently developing a handheld radioisotope identifier containing eighteen position-sensitive CdZnTe crystals. In addition to isotope identification, the device performs basic Compton imaging to determine the location of suspected sources. This paper gives an overview of the electronics system we have designed for this instrument. We use specialized application-specific integrated circuits to preprocess the outputs of each CdZnTe crystal. A low-power microprocessor running Windows CE drives the user interface and implements the isotope identification and directionality computations. Finally, we use a field-programmable gate array to perform the computationally intensive imaging tasks in real time.

Noninvasive ultrasonic examination technology in support of counter-terrorism and drug interdiction activities: the acoustic inspection device (AID)

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed a portable, battery-operated, handheld ultrasonic device that provides non-invasive container interrogation and material identification capabilities. The technique governing how the acoustic inspection device (AID) functions, involves measurements of ultrasonic pulses (0.1 to 5 MHz) that are launched into a container or material. The return echoes from these pulses are analyzed in terms of time-of-flight and frequency content to extract physical property measurements (the acoustic velocity and attenuation coefficient) of the material under test. The AID performs an automated analysis of the return echoes to identify the material, and detect contraband in the form of submerged packages and concealed compartments in liquid filled containers and solid-form commodities. An inspector can quickly interrogate outwardly innocuous commodity items such as shipping barrels, tanker trucks, and metal ingots. The AID can interrogate container sizes ranging from approximately 6 inches in diameter to over 96 inches in diameter and allows the inspector to sort liquid and material types into groups of like and unlike; a powerful method for discovering corrupted materials or miss-marked containers co-mingled in large shipments. This manuscript describes the functionality, capabilities and measurement methodology of the technology as it relates to homeland security applications.

NOA: A Scalable Multi-Parent Clustering Hierarchy for WSNs

Abstract NOA is a multi-hop, multi-parent, N-tiered, hierarchical clustering algorithm that provides a scalable, robust and reliable solution for autonomous configuration of large-scale wireless sensor networks. The novel clustering hierarchys inherent benefits can be utilized by in-network data processing techniques to provide a robust data processing solution capable of reducing the amount of data sent to data sinks. Utilizing a multi-parent framework, NOA reduces the cost of network configuration when compared to current hierarchical beaconing solutions by removing the r-hop fi (where r is the radius of the cluster). NOA instead utilizes common children to distribute information about the hierarchys topology to siblings. NOA2, a two-parent clustering hierarchy solution, and NOA3, the three-parent variant, saw up to an 83% and 72% reduction in communication overhead, respectively, when compared to configuring the network using a one-parent hierarchical beaconing solution, as well as 92% and 88% less overhead when compared to two-and three-parent variants of hierarchical beaconing.

Non-invasive ultrasonic instrument for counter-terrorism and drug interdiction operations - the acoustic inspection device (AID)

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed a portable, battery-operated, handheld ultrasonic device that provides non-invasive container interrogation and material identification capabilities. The technique governing how the acoustic inspection device (AID) functions, involves measurements of ultrasonic pulses (0.1 to 5 MHz) that are launched into a container or material. The return echoes from these pulses are analyzed in terms of time-of-flight and frequency content to extract physical property measurements (the acoustic velocity and attenuation coefficient) of the material under test. The AID performs an automated analysis of the return echoes to identify the material, and detect contraband in the form of submerged packages and concealed compartments in liquid filled containers and solid-form commodities. This device utilizes a database consisting of material property measurements acquired from an automated, ultrasonic fluid characterization system called the Velocity-Attenuation Measurement System (VAMS). Both prototype technologies are discussed here. This manuscript describes the functionality, capabilities and measurement methodology of the technology as it relates to the material property measurements and homeland security applications.

Implementation of an electronic media security system

Recent security lapses within the Department of Energy Laboratories prompted the establishment and implementation of additional procedures and training for operations involving classified removable electronic media (CREM) storage. In addition, the definition of CREM has been expanded and the number of CREM has increased significantly. Procedures now require that all CREM be inventoried and accounted for on a weekly basis. Weekly inventories consist of a physical comparison of each item against the reportable inventory listing. Securing and accounting for CREM is a continuous challenge for existing security systems. To address the challenge, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed an automated electronic media security system (EMSS) for a weekly CREM inventory collection and reporting system. The EMSS approach is to tag the CREM with an electronically readable unique identification code and automatically collect data on the inventory in each security container or vault at a user-defined interval and upon detection of an access event, thus eliminating the need for hand-written inventory sheets while allowing automated transfer of the collected inventory data to an electronic reporting system. An electronic log of CREM access events is maintained, providing enhanced accountability for daily/weekly checks, routine audits, and follow-up investigations. The key attributes of the EMSS include improved accountability, reduced risk of human error, improved accuracy and timeliness of inventory data, and reduced costs as a result of man-hour reductions.

Active sensor tags for global visibility of asset readiness

The era of wireless communication and discrete, autonomous sensors platforms is upon us. Advances in radio-frequency (RF) technology from simple two-way personal communications to smart, independent, sensor command, and control units has greatly expanded the applications domain. In the past four years, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) scientists and engineers have developed smart sensor tags (health tags) for the Army to monitor environmental conditions of high value assets over their lifetime (10 yrs). These field tested health tags uniquely identify individual assets, record and store data, run diagnostic and prognostic protocols, identify asset performance status (GO, CAUTION, NO-GO), and provide all this information over a wireless RF link to a portable, hand held reader. Leveraging the innovation achieved for health monitoring tags, the next generation active sensor tag has been developed (FlexiTag) providing reduced tag size and manufacturing cost, greater sensor interface capabilities, and a flexible substrate for surface mount conformity. The design has a greatly reduced part count due to the use of newly available, highly integrated RF chip sets. In addition to asset health monitoring, the new tag platform opens up additional application areas such as TTL (tagging, tracking, and locating), real-time machine fault monitoring, and ad-hoc sensor networking. This paper will compare and contrast the FlexiTag to its predecessors and discuss the current application areas it is being applied to.

Final Report Providing the Design for Low-Cost Wireless Current Transducer and Electric Power Sensor Prototype

This report describes the design and development of a wireless current transducer and electric power sensor prototype. The report includes annotated schematics of the power sensor circuitry and the printed circuit board. The application program used to illustrate the functionality of the wireless sensors is described in this document as well.

CREM monitoring: a wireless RF application

Recent security lapses within the Department of Energy laboratories prompted the establishment and implementation of additional procedures and training for operations involving classified removable electronic media (CREM) storage. In addition, the definition of CREM has been expanded and the number of CREM has increased significantly. Procedures now require that all CREM be inventoried and accounted for on a weekly basis. Weekly inventories consist of a physical comparison of each item against the reportable inventory listing. Securing and accounting for CREM is a continuous challenge for existing security systems. To address this challenge, an innovative framework, encompassing a suite of technologies, has been developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to monitor, track, and locate CREM in safes, vaults, and storage areas. This Automated Removable Media Observation and Reporting (ARMOR)framework, described in this paper, is an extension of an existing PNNL program, SecureSafe. The key attributes of systems built around the ARMOR framework include improved accountability, reduced risk of human error, improved accuracy and timeliness of inventory data, and reduced costs. ARMOR solutions require each CREM to be tagged with a unique electronically readable ID code. Inventory data is collected from tagged CREM at regular intervals and upon detection of an access event. Automated inventory collection and report generation eliminates the need for hand-written inventory sheets and allows electronic transfer of the collected inventory data to a modern electronic reporting system. An electronic log of CREM access events is maintained, providing enhanced accountability for daily/weekly checks, routine audits, and follow-up investigations.

Ultrasonic database development for the acoustic inspection device: the velocity-attenuation measurement system (VAMS)

The inspection of sealed containers is a critical task for personnel charged with enforcing government policies, maintaining public safety, and ensuring national security. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed a portable, handheld acoustic inspection device (AID) that provides non-invasive container interrogation and material identification capabilities. The AID technology has been deployed worldwide and user’s are providing feedback and requesting additional capabilities and functionality. Recently, PNNL has developed a laboratory-based system for automated, ultrasonic characterization of fluids to support database development for the AID. Using pulse-echo ultrasound, ultrasonic pulses are launched into a container or bulk-solid commodity. The return echoes from these pulses are analyzed in terms of time-of-flight and frequency content (as a function of temperature) to extract physical property measurements (acoustic velocity and attenuation) of the material under test. These measured values are then compared to a tailored database of materials and fluids property data acquired using the Velocity-Attenuation Measurement System (VAMS). This bench-top platform acquires key ultrasonic property measurements as a function of temperature and frequency. This paper describes the technical basis for operation of the VAMS, recent enhancements to the measurement algorithms for both the VAMS and AID technologies, and new measurement data from laboratory testing and performance demonstration activities. Applications for homeland security and counterterrorism, law enforcement, drug-interdiction and fuel transportation compliance activities will be discussed.

Development of enhanced ultrasonic imaging for in-situ inspection of a tension-stressed threaded fastener

A laboratory system was developed that utilized an ultrasonic pulse-echo technique to detect very small cracks emanating from the thread root of a tensile-stressed fastener. Primary benefits were (1) the ability to inspect the fastener without its removal from the structure, (2) much improved detection sensitivity to small cracks, and (3) easy interpretation of data. The fastener of interest had threads with nominal inner and outer diameters of 1.8 cm (0.73 in.) and 2.2 cm (0.86 in.), respectively, and a thread pitch of 3.1 threads per centimeter (8.0 threads per in.). A plastic washer was placed over the fastener nut to shield the nut from ultrasound and thereby eliminate spurious signals. B-scan images provided feedback to align the ultrasonic scanner and fastener for optimal detection sensitivity. A tone-burst pulser-receiver controlled excitation frequency and bandwidth to maintain focal properties, minimize backscatter noise from the base material, and increase penetration into the coarse-grained Inconel. A custom ultrasonic transducer was used to optimize the focal properties over the inspection zone of 2.3 cm to 3.3 cm (0.9 in. to 1.3 in.) from the threaded end of the fastener. A calibration part with four 1.0-mm (0.040-in.) deep notches spanning the length of the inspection zone was used to calibrate distance-amplitude correction and system sensitivity. Custom B-scan and C-scan views were used to present data to the inspector and optimize the signal-to-noise ratio. A direct comparison was made between ultrasonic and destructive test images. Details of system hardware, data- acquisition procedure, analysis, and plans for a portable hand-held system for field inspection are provided.