Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co. has developed a portable device for workers to measure radioactivity over a wide range from a safer distance of more than 10 meters, the company said.
Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co. has developed a portable device for workers to measure radioactivity over a wide range from a safer distance of more than 10 meters, the company said.
The gauge allows a user to remain far from sources of radiation, because the machine can measure targets up to 30 to 40 meters away, the company said.
Hitachi made the instrument relatively small and light so it can be carried in the field. It is about the size of a small cooler and weighs 16.8 kilograms.
By pointing a camera equipped with it at a possible contaminated spot, the device can detect cesium-134, cesium-137 and iodine-131, and transmit a multicolored image showing the radiation levels to a computer. With it, workers can easily pinpoint hotspots.
These features also make it easier for workers to grasp the extent of contamination, leading to more efficient decontamination work.
The company plans to sell the device to municipalities and construction companies by order only, starting later this month. Hitachi said it will be priced between 20 million to 30 million yen ($243,000-$364,500). The company expects to sell about 100 units by the end of March 2013.