Abstract: A method is disclosed to determine an inspection protocol for radioactive material in shipping containers using an inspection technique threshold characteristic. The method includes weighing a container prior to shipment and determining a relative position of the container weight to at least one of a number of predetermined inspection technique threshold lines in an inspection threshold characteristic. Each of the of the predetermined inspection technique threshold lines corresponds to at least one of a number of inspection techniques. The container is classified as either a heavy container or a light container relative to at least one of the inspection techniques according to the relative position of the container weight to at least one of the predetermined inspection technique threshold lines. An inspection protocol for radioactive material in the container is selected according to the classification of the container.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to determine an inspection protocol for radioactive material in shipping containers using an inspection technique threshold characteristic. The method includes weighing a container prior to shipment and determining a relative position of the container weight to at least one of a number of predetermined inspection technique threshold lines in an inspection threshold characteristic. Each of the of the predetermined inspection technique threshold lines corresponds to at least one of a number of inspection techniques. The container is classified as either a heavy container or a light container relative to at least one of the inspection techniques according to the relative position of the container weight to at least one of the predetermined inspection technique threshold lines. An inspection protocol for radioactive material in the container is selected according to the classification of the container.

Abstract: A radioactive material detection system includes a plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses and a command center. Each apparatus is disposed in or on a cargo receptacle. Each apparatus includes a wireless transmitter, a radiation sensor, a detection controller and an identification tag. The radiation sensor is configured to detect radiation over a predetermined or commanded period of time. The command center is configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted information directly or indirectly from each of the wireless transmitters of the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses. The system is configured to detect fissile or nuclear material that emits radiation. The system is reconfigurable from a passive sensing system to an at least partially active sensing system in the event that the system detects a nuclear anomaly within a cargo receptacle.

Abstract: A radioactive material detection system includes a cargo container monitoring system and a control center. The cargo container monitoring system has a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation over a predetermined or commanded period of time and a transceiver configured to send the information received from the radiation sensor. The control center is in communication with the transceiver of the cargo container monitoring system. The control center is configured to receive data from at least one additional source other than the cargo container monitoring system and to asynchronously analyze the data from the at least one additional source and the information from the radiation sensor, during transit, so as to detect radioactive material in a cargo container.

Abstract: A radioactive material detection system includes a plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses and a master unit/master module. Each apparatus is disposed in or on a cargo receptacle and each apparatus has a wireless transmitter, a radiation sensor and a detection controller. The master unit/master module has a receiver configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted information from each of the wireless transmitters and a master controller. The system detects fissile or nuclear material that emits radiation by (i) calculating and storing at the master unit/master module an initial average measured radiation level at each radioactive material detection apparatus location throughout the entire array of radioactive material detection apparatuses and (ii) comparing the current measured radiation at each radioactive material detection apparatus location to the initial radiation level at each location in order to identify an anomaly amongst the plurality of cargo receptacles.

Abstract: A radioactive material detection system includes a cargo container monitoring system and a control center. The cargo container monitoring system has a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation over a predetermined or commanded period of time and a transceiver configured to send the information received from the radiation sensor. The control center is in communication with the transceiver of the cargo container monitoring system. The control center is configured to receive data from at least one additional source other than the cargo container monitoring system and to asynchronously analyze the data from the at least one additional source and the information from the radiation sensor, during transit, so as to detect radioactive material in a cargo container.

Abstract: A radioactive material detection apparatus includes a transmitter, a radiation sensor and a controller. The transmitter is capable of transmitting information in correspondence with a signal. The radiation sensor has a sensor output and is configured to detect radiation over a predetermined period of time. The controller is configured to receive the sensor output from the radiation sensor and to send the signal to the transmitter for transmission.