Date: Jun 05, 2012 Author: press release Source: Company Data (
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Alexandria, VA, June 5th, 2012 —SENTEL Corp., a technology services company that provides the federal government, military and commercial enterprises with engineering products and services worldwide, has been awarded a $6.3M contract to develop a prototype handheld device designed to locate buried IEDs from a distance. This contract supports the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) and is sponsored by the Joint IED Defeat Office (JIEDDO). The system leverages existing LaserScan technology, using quantum cascade laser spectrometry, to detect disturbed earth.
SENTEL brings years of sensor integration and systems engineering experience to this effort. Under this award, the corporation will work with Block Engineering, Inc., in Boston, MA, to re-engineer their portable LaserScan spectrometer to meet the size and performance requirements established by the government. SENTEL staff will support NVESD researchers in investigating phenomenology through data collection and analysis, and conduct detection algorithm validation studies.
Quantum cascade laser (QCL) spectrometry makes use of reflected light from the ground to differentiate between disturbed and undisturbed soils. Quantum cascade lasers are basically the size of a computer chip, and are wavelength specific, making them a very promising technology for use in a handheld device for finding buried threats such as improvised explosive devices, pressure plates, and trip wires.
"The ability to detect buried IEDs from a distance is the latest advance in SENTEL's suite of products and technologies designed to keep our warfighters safe," said Darrell L. Crapps, SENTEL's President and CEO. "These handheld detectors will offer reconnaissance teams a crucial assist in their efforts to identify and subsequently neutralize IED threats."
This effort will leverage SENTEL's years of experience in sensor integration and systems engineering. SENTEL staff will support NVESD researchers in investigating phenomenology through data collection and analysis, and conduct detection algorithm validation studies.
About SENTEL Corp.
SENTEL Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of WC Holding Inc., develops, tests, implements, and supports innovative technology that improves defense, enables communication, and protects lives. For more information on our information technology, intelligence, integrated logistics, and engineering solutions, visit our Web site at http://www.sentel.com.
