Comprehensive Hull Inspection and Damage Assessment System

To address the Navy need for damage assessment of vehicle hulls attacked by improvised explosive devices, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Comprehensive Hull Inspection and Damage Assessment (CHIDA) system. It comprises infrared (IR) three-dimensional (3D) vision and stroboscopic shearography modules, innovatively integrated into a single device. The proposed standalone system can be mounted on a compact mobile platform or an industrial shop floor. Operation is controlled by a data processor with a fuzzy logic go/no-go decision engine. Innovative implementation of IR techniques in 3D vision and shearography will allow accurate detection of material irregularities in hull and armor due to hidden cracks, work hardening, and stress fractures. The system will operate through paint and chemical-agent-resistant coatings to conduct battle damage assessment and repair (BDAR) analysis. As a result, this CHIDA system offers comprehensive roadside assessment of hull and armor damage to Marine Corps vehicles, which directly addresses the Navy requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the CHIDA system through detection of various types of damage in lab tests on prepared coupons. In Phase II, POC will develop a full-scale fieldable system prototype for effective BDAR inspection of vehicles with blast damage.