System and method for designing simulant composition
Inventors
McNamara, Joseph • DeMasi, Alexander • Brogden, Michael • Krauss, Ronald
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11114183-B2
Publication Date
2021-09-07
Expiration Date
2036-08-25
Abstract
In one embodiment, a method for identifying and forming a simulant includes identifying a composition, identifying a plurality of ingredients, the simulant being a combination of the ingredients, identifying for evaluation one or more metrics of the simulant, determining proportions of each of the ingredients by optimizing a quadratic function based on the one or more metrics of the simulant, rendering, via a GUI, a 3D plot that depicts the metrics and a target point specified by the target values of the composition, when the target point is contained within a convex set defined by the identified ingredients, outputting the determined proportions of each of the identified ingredients and, otherwise, receiving user input to adjust the convex set by user selecting and moving the data points of the 3D plot to modify the metrics of the simulant to produce a new 3D plot, and identifying alternative ingredients and/or alternative proportions.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a method and system for identifying and forming simulants that mimic the properties of target compounds, such as explosives or other materials, for use in training and testing detection systems. The method involves selecting a subject composition and a plurality of ingredients, identifying one or more metrics (physical or chemical properties) relevant to the simulant, and determining the proportions of each ingredient by optimizing a quadratic function to closely match the target metrics of the subject composition. This process includes rendering a three-dimensional plot via a graphical user interface to visualize the metrics and facilitate user interaction.
Conventional methods for designing simulants rely on trial and error and iterative testing, which are inefficient and time-consuming. The problem addressed is the need for an improved, efficient, and user-controlled methodology that optimizes ingredient selection and proportions to produce simulants matching multiple measurable properties of target compounds. It is particularly important for advanced imaging technology portals that rely on anomaly detection and morphological features, making simulant properties like density, effective atomic number, compressibility, and dielectric properties critical to replicate.
Claims Coverage
The patent claims include three independent claims covering methods and systems for designing simulants by selecting ingredients, metrics, and optimizing proportions via a quadratic function with a GUI 3D plot interface.
Method for identifying simulant by ingredient selection and quadratic optimization
The method receives a selected subject composition and at least three ingredient selections, identifies evaluation metrics, determines ingredient proportions by optimizing a quadratic function based on the metrics, renders a 3D plot with selectable and movable data points, outputs proportions when the target point lies within the convex set defined by the ingredients, or allows user adjustment and alternative ingredient identification when it does not.
Use of physical or chemical properties as metrics for simulant matching
The metrics used for evaluation include physical or chemical properties such as density, electron density, effective atomic number (Zeff), mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), chemical compound ratios (e.g., Nitrogen-Oxygen to Carbon-Hydrogen), dielectric constant, morphological properties, and millimeter wave reflectivity, with three axes of the 3D plot corresponding to three selected metrics.
System for identifying simulant with databases and processing circuitry performing quadratic optimization and interactive 3D visualization
A system comprising databases of subject compositions and ingredients with associated metrics, combined with processing circuitry configured to select metrics, optimize ingredient proportions via quadratic programming, render an interactive 3D GUI plot, output proportions when the target lies within the convex hull, and allow user adjustment and identification of alternative ingredients when the target does not lie within the convex set.
The independent claims cover methods and systems for efficiently designing simulants using quadratic function optimization of ingredient proportions based on multiple metrics, visually represented in an interactive 3D GUI for user-guided adjustments, with applicability to explosives and related compounds. The claims emphasize ingredient selection, metric evaluation, convex set determination, and user interaction with alternative ingredient identification.
Stated Advantages
Provides an efficient and user-controlled methodology to design simulants by optimally matching physical and chemical properties to target compounds.
Allows matching of multiple measurable metrics simultaneously, such as density, effective atomic number, and dielectric properties.
Enables interactive visualization and adjustment of ingredient metrics via a 3D plot, facilitating improved simulant formulation.
Supports identification and incorporation of alternative ingredients when an exact match is not initially possible.
Reduces time and resources compared to traditional trial-and-error simulant design methods.
Documented Applications
Designing explosive simulants for training and testing in X-ray based Explosive Detection Systems (EDS).
Formulating simulants compatible with Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) portals using X-ray or millimeter wave scanning for threat detection.
Designing simulants for explosive precursors, oxidizers, illegal drugs, and innocuous materials such as food products by mimicking specific measurable properties.
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