SBIR-STTR Award

Several important methods have been developed for the detection of buried landmines. Among these are infrared signature, nuclear magnetic resonance, neutron activation analysis, vapor detection, ground penetrating radar, and RF signature. Acoustic detection has seen limited application, in large part, because tests have been less than successful. Often this is due to high error rates, especially false positives, although this problem applies to all approaches. Applied Pulse Technology, Inc. proposes to perform the following three tasks: (1) Analyze existing acoustic methods of detecting landmines, including impulsive (broadband) and oscillatory signal sources with their corresponding reception methodologies with emphasis on existing algorithms for reflection mapping, target identification and imaging. This technology involves low amplitude excitation signals. (2) Analyze acoustic methods of neutralizing landmines, including shock waves, and high amplitude sinusoidal pressures, to deactivate or detonate landmines. The objective is to develop a neutralization strategy based on landmine vulnerabilities. (3) Design and conduct scaled tests using the most promising systems for acoustic detection and for neutralization. This task will verify that acoustic pulses and oscillations can efficiently couple to soil, penetrate it, and affect buried mine-like objects to exploit landmine vulnerabilities established in task (2).

Benefits:
Detectors of subsoil objects are routinely employed commercially in the construction industry and this technology will allow nonmetallic objects to be detected. Prior to start of buildings and roads buried infrastructure (i.e. pipes, cables, etc.) must be identified for archeological value. Prior to drilling for oil, subsoil is mapped to identify potential hazardous waste containers. The neutralization technology offered in this proposal is directly applicable to the demilitarization by fragmentation of explosive and other hazardous materials.