Active-Passive Fusion for Surface Contamination Detection

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop a sensor system based on an innovative approach for liquid contaminant detection and identification on operationally-relevant surfaces. The proposed system will provide a sensitive (1 mg/m2 objective, 500 mg/m2 threshold), stand-off (<30 m) and on-the-move capability for measuring the long-wave infrared (8µm 12µm) signatures of low vapor pressure chemical warfare agents (Mustard, VX), toxic industrial chemicals (TIC), and non-traditional agents (NTA). The proposed hardware and algorithm package combines the improved signal strength and sensitivity of active backscatter LIDAR with the broad-applicability and wavelength-selectivity of passive hyperspectral detection. Through the development of a system model and laboratory breadboard hardware in Phase I, PSI will demonstrate the feasibility of combined active-passive hardware, the expected sensitivity of the technique, and a framework for active-passive fusion algorithms. A Phase II effort will produce a TRL 5 device able to operate under relevant conditions (day/night, clear/cloudy skies) and acquire full-scene active and passive data with a ground pixel area of 50cm x 50cm at a rate sufficient for 10 mph on-the-move acquisition.