Innovative Air-Deliverable Tunnel Detection Sensor Suite

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to combine multiple air-deliverable sensor modalities for the detection of buried targets, including caves, tunnels and bunkers. The sensor suite will enable remote identification, verification and post mission assessment of targets without the need for boots on the ground, reducing personnel risk and resource expenditures. The mission dependent CONOPS may include an initial aerial survey of the region of interest, identifying suspected openings in the earth and disturbed earth detection indicating potential human activity. Additional assessment of target locations may be undertaken with air-dropped sensors verifying the presence of the underground structure and human/machine activity. PSI will leverage field proven techniques for standoff detection of tunnel ingress/egress and ventilation ports. The innovative approach proposed by PSI will provide the Air Force with a robust set of detection tools that may be used separately or as a suite of sensors. During the Phase I program PSI will perform feasibility experiments, develop preliminary detection algorithms, specify sensor subcomponents and develop notional air-deliverable sensor package designs. During the Phase II program PSI will fabricate and field test the sensor suite in collaboration with the Air Force. BENEFIT: The proposed research will provide the Air Force with a suite of air-deliverable sensors that will enable covert, remote detection and characterization of buried targets, including caves, tunnels and bunkers. The successful completion of the development program will enable the Air Force to limit or eliminate risk to soldiers that would otherwise have to identify underground targets through ground operations. The sensor suite will also enable more efficient use of resources especially when targets are located in remote geographic regions, far from bases. The sensor suite may also fulfill tunnel detection needs of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for border patrol and security. Finally, a subset of the sensor suite detectors may also find application in the commercial marketplace for monitoring underground assets such as water, natural gas and petroleum pipelines. Intrusion detection from either malicious activities or normal construction activities is becoming important as more utilities are placed underground.