Detector Test Facility

The DTF provides flexible workspace for rapid and reproducible testing of radiological and nuclear detectors. The facility supports both static and dynamic test configurations, with each area capable of accommodating fully automated operation and data collection from up to 12 large instruments simultaneously.

Linear Motion System

The Linear Motion System (LMS) extends 30 meters in length and operates at speeds up to 5.0 m/s, with a perpendicular operating range from 0.25 m to 4 m, enabling highly repeatable and controlled dynamic testing scenarios. The LMS paired with shielded source garages enables automated source motion from shielded positions to measurement locations, supporting repeatable fluence-based measurements and high trial throughput.

Integrated Source Garages

Integrated source garages shield sources between trials, providing greater than 10,000× gamma attenuation and 10× neutron attenuation creating a test background that is indistinguishable from the facility background without sources.

System Under Test (SUT) Rails

System Under Test (SUT) Rails provide a common mounting platform for SUTs and test instrumentation, including VisionDAQ hardware with precision leveling mechanisms and linear-bearing repositioning capabilities to enable rapid configuration changes and distance adjustments.

Advanced Automation and Data Systems: AI in Action

VisionDAQ represents the DAC’s cutting-edge approach to automated data collection and analysis, providing event- and trial-based video recording combined with real-time data acquisition. AI-guided image recognition extracts any and all radioisotopes identified by the SUT at the conclusion of each trial, and that information is added to the summary output files.

Automated readout through VisionDAQ and control—software and robotic—of the SUTs significantly reduces labor, test time, and cost while improving repeatability and virtually eliminating operator input errors. This automation enables increased trial counts and higher statistical confidence. Recent tests have demonstrated 12 systems operating autonomously and simultaneously with only a single operator as opposed to 4 or 6 needed through traditional human operation and data recording.