Advanced Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) Techniques for Buried Explosive Hazard Detection and Characterization

Abstract: Due to the highly variable, often clutter-ridden, and sometimes hostile environments in which Buried Explosive Hazards (BEHs) reside, the challenge of clearing areas through mounted or dismounted operations is a formidable one. The improvised nature of re-used munitions and detonating devices, as well as the variability of homemade explosives constituents requires a technology capable of detecting signatures associated with a range of threats that include deeply buried ordnance and explosives, non-metallic homemade explosive compounds, and low-metal improvised trigger mechanisms. Existing metal detector capabilities for vehicles within the Route Clearance Squad provide limited detection for deep-buried and low-metal or non-metallic threats. Recent advances in Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) sensor technology offer several new capabilities that could address many of the current BEH detection capability gaps. Specifically, the development of sensors that provide rich spatial, temporal and spectral information offer unparalleled detection and characterization capabilities. The objective of our Phase II work is to leverage several of these advanced technologies to demonstrate a modular forward-mounted BEH detection system for integration within the Route Clearance Squad. We will demonstrate an approach that applies multi-frequency and multi-axis EMI hardware to enable detection of deep-buried metal targets and low-metal or non-metallic main charge constituents.