Liquid Crystal-based Sensors for Detection of Airborne Toxic Chemicals for Integration with Unmanned Robotic Systems

Platypus will leverage its scientific gains in the advancement of liquid crystal-based (LC) sensors to develop light weight, accurate, and instantaneous multi-target LC gas sensor systems with telemetry and low power consumption for retrofit or OEM integration onto unmanned vehicles (UMVs). We will also develop a computational design guide for the rapid production and deployment of LC sensors for future target gases. To accomplish this feat, the team has separated the main objectives of this Phase II Follow-On into two separate Thrusts. Thrust 1 focuses on the optimization and integration of multi-target LC based sensors for known toxic gases. Thrust 2 focuses on the development of a computational design guide that will accelerate the fabrication of LC sensors for future unknown chemicals. The next generation sensors produced from this effort will find use in a variety of applications for military/homeland security (DoD), law enforcement (DEA/FBI) and workplace safety (NIOSH/CDC).Independent analysts estimate that the North American market for toxic gas sensors will reach $1.8 billion by 2021, from $1.2B in 2016, a 9.3% CAGR. Platypus will initially seek to penetrate the unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) market estimated at $20.3 million for LC sensors but will pursue larger markets with time.