Beta radiation is present in the natural environment and in radioactive sources. It is essential to be able to detect and measure this radiation. While many technologies exist to detect radiation, most off-the-shelf products designed for high-end uses: they are expensive, inflexible, use proprietary software and can’t easily interface with other devices. No cheap, scalable, and open-source radiation detection device exists. This project aims to develop a beta radiation sensor that is cheap, scalable, and Arduino compatible, so that it can be embedded in remote-operated machines, robot, DIY kits, and in classrooms.
School
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Research Area
Radiation | Nuclear engineering | Sensors
Suitable for recognition of Work Integrated Learning (industrial training)?
Yes
- Research environment
- Expected outcomes
- Supervisory team
- Reference material/links
The research will be conducted in the Nuclear Engineering group in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering under the supervision of Dr Matthew Brand and A/Prof Patrick Burr.
The project is experimental in nature. Knowledge of electronic circuit design is preferred.
- Design of an Arduino compatible beta radiation sensor
- Create a working prototype of the sensor
- Develop a manufacturing pathway for bulk production of the sensor
