1. The Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates generally to a system and methods for determining whether an energetic substance or material has experienced a reaction (“go”) or a non-reaction (“no-go”) for storage, transportation or in-process handling, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to a system and methods using a video capturing device, a CPU or computer, sensitivity test equipment, such as an electrostatic discharge device or impact assessment device for testing and assessing the substance or material reaction or explosion sensitivities, and a set of rules or instructions to be followed for quantifying and determining whether a reaction has occurred or not.
2. Description of Related Art
Reaction detection for sensitivity test equipment is not automated. As a consequence, the determination of whether a reaction actually occurred (i.e., a go reaction) or whether a no reaction occurred (i.e., a no-go reaction) is subjective in nature and is based on an operator's varying experience and perception of what actually transpired during a reaction event. Because of the subjectivity of determining whether a reaction occurred or not, standardization of sensitivity test results between laboratories is very difficult to achieve. Standardization between laboratories is possible provided an objective system and methods for determining whether a reaction occurred or not are used.
In the industry, various types of equipment are used to assist an operator in determining whether a reaction occurred or not while testing an energetic material or substance for sensitivity. Some of these operator assisted devices include, but are not limited to, a noise dosimeter, a gas analyzer, a light meter, a strain gauge, and a video capturing device (such as a standard or high-speed camera). One of the best ways in the industry to determine whether a reaction occurred or not is to use a high-speed video capture device for at least the following reasons: (1) it provides a reviewable visual record of the reaction event; and (2) it provides better spatial and temporal visual resolution of the reaction event.
The disclosure is directed to a unique and advantageous system and methods for determining whether a reaction occurred or not using automated equipment, thereby reducing the amount of subjectivity resulting from an operator determination based on an image or collection of images. The automated system and method may use a high-speed video capturing device, sensitivity test equipment, a computer processor and a set of rules or instructions that objectively compares a set of quantified image trial data to a set of quantified image baseline or background data to determine whether a reaction occurred.
An additional difference between the disclosure and what is done in the industry is instead of the operator making a subjective reaction determination based on sensory perception or a less subjective determination using a threshold for auditory, or a gas analyzer, or intensity of light, the operator makes a determination on quantifiable data relating to the acceptable level of error or the likelihood of a false positive and/or a false negative. With that level of error identified, the reaction detection threshold can then be calculated through the use of the system and method of the disclosure. Knowledge of the error or the likelihood of a false positive and/or a false negative allows for much better risk assessment of the sensitivity testing outcome.
The disclosure improves upon known techniques used in the industry by, inter alia, using four unique identifiers or quantifiers relating to the images identified as being of interest and significant. Those identifiers or quantifiers include: brightness, shape, buoyancy, and the uniformity of the event. The disclosure also detects decomposition or reaction of energetic materials. The method and process disclosed may also be advantageous in that multiple characteristics of the images are simultaneously quantified to determine if a reaction has occurred. It is noteworthy that none of the known systems or methods known to Applicant provides the above-identified advantages.
The features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by the methods and means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base, or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.