Key Takeaways
- Stony Brook University and Redshred have been awarded a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to develop the Radiation AI Decision and Information Assistant for Nuclear Tasks (RADIANT)
- RADIANT is an AI-powered platform designed to support military operations and nuclear safety through real-time, data-driven radiation guidance
- The technology integrates advanced artificial intelligence with health physics expertise to enhance decision-making in environments with radiological hazards
- RADIANT has strong commercial potential in sectors such as nuclear power, emergency response, special operations, and international treaty monitoring
Introduction to RADIANT
Stony Brook University, in partnership with Redshred, has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to develop the Radiation AI Decision and Information Assistant for Nuclear Tasks (RADIANT). This innovative AI-powered platform is designed to support military operations and nuclear safety through real-time, data-driven radiation guidance. Led by Principal Investigator Manoj Mahajan of Stony Brook, the RADIANT project will integrate advanced artificial intelligence with health physics expertise to enhance decision-making in environments with radiological hazards. The technology is intended to act as an AI health physicist companion, delivering user-friendly, on-demand insights for tactical units, strategic mission planning, and nuclear inspection tasks.
The Partnership Between Stony Brook University and Redshred
The award represents the university’s first with DTRA in over a decade and builds on a growing record of success between Redshred and the university. Redshred is based in Stony Brook’s Center of Excellence in Wireless Information and Technology (CEWIT) and the company is CEWIT’s first expansion into nuclear and radiation health research. Last year, Mahajan and Redshred were awarded a $1.8 million STTR Phase II contract from the U.S. Air Force for their AIRworthiness Model Automation for cerTification Evaluations (AIRMATE) system. This project helps expand two of CEWIT’s focus areas: Medical Technology and Defense Research. The partnership between Stony Brook University and Redshred underscores the university’s commitment to fostering innovative technologies that address global challenges.
The Capabilities of RADIANT
RADIANT’s key innovation is its ability to extract and interpret complex data from nuclear and health physics documentation. This enables the system to see and understand information the way a trained human specialist would, drastically improving response time and accuracy in high-stakes situations. Building on this capability, the project advances several of the DTRA’s strategic initiatives by integrating advanced computing, human-machine interfaces, and trusted AI to deliver clear, real-time radiation safety guidance. Designed to operate on small local devices, RADIANT aligns with the DTRA’s goal of creating accessible, field-ready technologies that translate complex technical data into actionable insights for military operations and a range of civilian applications.
The Potential Applications of RADIANT
DTRA is the first end-user for RADIANT, which could ultimately serve a broad array of military and civilian applications. The system is designed to guide safe radiation exposure practices in real-time, offering tactical recommendations, such as time limits based on radiation dose thresholds. On a strategic level, it can help forecast long-term impacts on veteran health, which is an expanding area of CEWIT and Stony Brook Medicine, as well as combat force capabilities due to radiation exposure, thereby assisting in force protection and mission execution. Beyond its defense applications, RADIANT has strong commercial potential in sectors such as nuclear power, emergency response, special operations, and international treaty monitoring. The platform could assist civilian operators, NGOs, and global organizations, such as the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency, in radiation safety, compliance, and inspections.
The Future of RADIANT and Its Impact
The RADIANT project represents a bold step forward in the use of AI, and it demonstrates the fundamental relationship between research and innovation in developing scalable and impactful solutions to society’s most pressing challenges. "We’re creating an innovative solution that transforms complex radiation data into actionable insights for non-experts in the field with our partners at Stony Brook University," said Jim Kukla of Redshred. As the project moves forward, it is expected to have a significant impact on the field of radiation safety and nuclear operations, and its potential applications in various sectors will continue to expand. The collaboration between Stony Brook University and Redshred serves as a model for successful partnerships between academia and industry, and it highlights the importance of fostering innovative technologies that address global challenges.
