WIND: The Next-Generation Radiation Detection Backpack
Stephen Luke, Ph.D., CHP, PMP
Program Manager, DHS/DNDO Transformational and Applied Research Directorate
DHS/DNDO’s Transformational and Applied Research Directorate is sponsoring an Advanced Technology Demonstration program to explore the design and development of a modular and cross-functional wearable radiation detection, localization, and identification prototype. Performers for this Wearable Intelligent Nuclear Detection (WIND) program will be divided into two Topic Areas: Hardware Design and Software/Visualization Development.
This talk will focus on two novel research and development aspects of the WIND program. The first of these relates to several predetermined spiral development phases that will evaluate prototype performance against three separate assessment vectors: ergonomics and usability as determined by a subset of end-users, ability to detect and localize items of particular interest to the R/N community, and technical characterization and performance. The second includes a detailed open architecture concept, to enable vendors for each Topic Area to seamlessly integrate their designs and to ensure both hardware component modularity and software interoperability for the final WIND prototypes.