Yesterday NEUDOSE team member Erica had the pleasure of presenting the work done by our satellite team at the Quarterly Nuclear Energy Session for Natural Resources Canada. The group of government officials and industry executives were impressed with our team's progress. It was incredible to hear praise from such well established professionals in the nuclear industry! Pictured here are Colin Hoult (left), Deputy Director of Nuclear Strategic Policy for Natural Resources Canada, Diane Cameron (center), Director of the Nuclear Energy Division of Natural Resources Canada, and Erica (right) with our satellite.
McMaster NEUDOSE at the First Robotics Show
Last week members from the McMaster NEUDOSE team spent the day with high school students to talk about our satellite project. More than 1,500 students, teachers, and mentors attended the FIRST Robotics Competition, hosted at McMaster University for the first time. Team members Mitchell, an engineering physics student, and Michael, a mechanical engineering student, were very engaging as they spoke with bright young students interested in science and engineering.
Recruitment!
Do you or someone you know want to join the McMaster NEUDOSE team? We are recruiting! We are looking for some fresh new faces to join our exciting project! For information pertaining to recruitment, please visit our Recruitment page here!
Anode Wire Crimping
Here is a close-up of the process of crimping the anode wire of the Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC). This anode wire collects charge from when radiation ionizes the gas that fills the TEPC. This technique is the primary method of radiation detection in our instrument.
Soldering On
Eric and Bhavesh are using two different microscopes to solder small components on circuit boards for the Anti-Coincidence Detector (ACD). The use of microscopes is necessary since the components are very small. There are approximately 400 different components on the small 9.3cm x 9.3cm circuit board. This work definitely requires an eye for detail!
McMaster Nuclear Reactor Support NEUDOSE
The McMaster Nuclear Reactor has been graciously supporting McMaster NEUDOSE in many ways! The MNR has allowed NEUDOSE to test various electronic components and the radiation detector system inside of the reactor. We will be able to utilize many different sources of radiation, including gamma ray sources and the neutrons from the reactor core. Access to such a varied suite of scientific tools provided by the facility will prove to be an incredible opportunity.
MNR has also featured NEUDOSE on its website! We attended the Canadian Nuclear Association Conference last month with members of the MNR. To see the article, click here or on the logo below.
TEPC Data Acquisition Board
Pictured here is a 3D rendering of the data acquisition board from the Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC). The TEPC will collect charge from radiation as it ionizes a gas filled cavity. The TEPC is a major component of the on-board radiation detection system.
Constructed Solar Panel Deployment Mechanism
Last month we showed you the design of the mechanism that will deploy the solar panels of the satellite to collect energy from the sun. Well, here it is fully constructed! This circuit will draw electricity from the on-board battery to burn through the wire holding the solar panels closed. This will allow the solar panels to open using the stored energy in the springs and hinges.
X-Ray of the Command & Data Handing Circuit Board
Soldering is the technique used to connect different electrical components on a circuit board. When it comes to connecting small components, it can get quite tricky. The entire circuit board for the command and data handling system, which processes information on-board the satellite, is 9cm x 9cm. This means all of the components are very small! To ensure the greatest quality for all connections on the circuit board, an x-ray was taken to look for defects. The captured x-ray is shown below. Proper quality assessment is crucial for all of our components - even the smallest ones!
Meeting Industry Professionals at CNA 2017
Last week at the Canadian Nuclear Association conference, McMaster NEUDOSE team members got the chance to meet with many executives in the nuclear industry. Two notable professionals that loved hearing about the satellite team and unique radiation detector system included Kim Rudd, MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, pictured left, and Dr. Michael Binder, President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, pictured right. The kind words received by our team from such distinguished individuals was invigorating, and we look forward to sharing more of our progress in the future!
For more images of the event, click here!
Kim Rudd, MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
Dr. Michael Binder, President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.