SBIR-STTR Award

The Environmental Engineering Group (EEG), Inc. in collaboration with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) proposes to develop a novel magnetic and chemical microsensor for in-situ, real-time detection, and unattended use. We envision a micro-system built around a single type of micro-structure element integrating a monolithic optical system and electronics package. We will integrate into the same micro-structure sensing element, the ability to sense magnetic fields, and chemical composition. The proposed microsensor will incorporate high performance optics, telemetry, and power source and will be capable of operating under field conditions, with sufficient sensitivity to permit high detection rates, and with sufficient selectivity to prevent high false alarm rates. The telemetry system will consist of a relatively small FOV vertically directed laser diode used for burst mode transmission. The transmission of the sensor information could either be transmitted at regular intervals or determined by thesensed parameters. For particularly stealthy operation the telemetry information from the sensed parameters. For particularly stealthy operation the telemetry information from the sensed parameters could also be triggered remotely by either an RF or line-of-sight electro-optical signal. Thus, the 1 to 2 second burst mode signal would be difficult to intercept, jam, and be very power conscience.

This STTR Phase II project has as the primary focus the development of an unattended ground system (UGS) based on the optimization of microstructures that can be used in microsensors for in-situ, real-time detection, and unattended use. Results for Phase I of the proposed effort supported by DDARPAclearly demonstrated that the microcalorimetric spectroscopy technique can be applied to detect and identify chemicals in the ppm level and the studied magnetometer can provide sensitivities in the order of 1uT. There are three major objectives for Phase II: (i) to refine the techniques used successfully in the Phase I effort and achieve magnetic detection sensitivities in the order of 1pT @ 1Hz, (ii) to capitalize on the knowledge and expertise gained in the Phase I effort to design, fabricate, and test the chemical sensing component that will be part of the overall UGS reaching sensitivities in the order of ppb or better and (iii) to initiate development of the acoustic detection system that will act as the trigger for the overall system. It is expected that at the end of Phase II the technology will be successfully demonstrated to the sponsor and will be ready to proceed with the commercialization stage in the Phase III of this project where the system will incorporate high performance optics, telemetry, and power source and will be capable of operating under harsh field conditions.

Keywords:
MICROSENSORS; CHEMICAL; MAGNETIC; ACOUSTIC; UNATTENDED; REAL-TIME; MEMS; UGS;