PNNL

Abstract

This article describes the Acoustic Inspection Device (AID) developed by PNNL which uses acoustic to determine the contents and fill level of sealed containers. AID is a power drill shaped battery operated device fitted with a transducer that sends an ultrasonic pusle through a container of liquid and measure the return echo. The device compares the echo velocity and attnuation and compares that data to a materials database in an Palm Pilot vlecored to the top of the device to give the operator a text identification of the substance with 5 seconds. The device is sensitive enough to distinguish coke from diet coke and and can distinguish subtances at a variety of temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 100degreesF. PNNL won an R&D 100 award for the technology in 2003.