Year
2018
Abstract
Detecting radiation from an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) poses certain challenges with regards to equipment characteristics, such as weight and durability. While stand-alone detector systems exist that could be adapted for use on an aircraft, there are certain requirements that necessitate constructing a custom detection system, specifically implementation of a neutron/gamma-ray discrimination capability. Additionally, the system is being designed from the ground up to be more robust with regards to shock mounting and with lower power requirements. The prospective system includes a single board computer, micro-oscilloscope, silicon photomultiplier, and an organic scintillator. This presentation will outline the design of the radiation detection system, why each component was selected, and how it supports the development of a Bayesian algorithm that increases the efficiency of searching for missing radiation sources over wide area.