Handheld Multisensor Wand for the Detection of Threat or Illicit Objects on Persons

In this Phase I SBIR work, we propose to test the feasibility of enhancing a hand-held wand time-domain terahertz (TD-THz) based sensor with an additional suite of low cost sensor technologies to create a multi-sensor fusion based approach. The feasibility of TDTHz signature based anomaly detection has been demonstrated previously in double-blind testing performed by an independent laboratory. A key capability of the TD-THz inspection wand is to detect concealed anomalous objects on the body of a person by employing automated time-domain waveform signature analysis without the need for imaging and its associated privacy concerns. While the probability of detection (PD) and probability of false alarm (PFA) previously demonstrated with a single THz sensor was very good and met TSA criteria for the particular concept of operation, the addition of one or more sensors will broaden the detectable types of concealments and anomalies; reduce shield conditions; speed operator use; and further improve the PD and PFA. We will evaluate the potential impact of the receiver operating characteristic of each of the sensor combinations in Phase I using a combination of experimental testing using simulants and theoretical evaluation. A prototype multi-sensor wand will be engineered, built and tested in Phase II.