Detection of Permethrin in Military Uniforms via Microwave NDE

Permethrin content in the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU) decreases during active field duty, potentially exposing Marines to disease-carrying insects.Chemical based tests are currently impossible to perform in-situ under field condition, requiring consumables, bulky equipment, and a long test time.Under this effort, Nokomis will prototype and demonstrate a handheld permethrin detection device that uses nondestructive low-power microwave / Radio Frequency (RF) measurements to determine the concentration of permethrin in the MCCUU.Nokomis device will target multiple frequencies in the microwave frequency band, leveraging parallelized measurements and data fusion techniques to achieve highly accurate and repeatable results.Preliminary design demonstrated that a handheld system that could fit within a Marines pocket and test any part of the MCCUU can be achieved.Under this program, Nokomis will complete system design, manufacture three deliverable prototypes, and demonstrate performance in a representative operational environment. The technology developed under this program is anticipated to exceed stated Marine Corps requirements for a handheld permethrin detection device.