Remote Acoustic Signatures Analyzer for Sealed Container Inspection

To address the Army need for a noncontact long-standoff inspection system with the capability to identify the interior fills of a sealed container, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Remote Acoustic Signatures Analyzer (RASA) capable of noncontact identification of toxic industrial chemicals (TIC), explosive mixtures, and chemical warfare agents as well as their physical form (gas, liquid, or solid) and fill level in containers. The proposed RASA is based on the unique integration of a state-of-the-art acoustic excitation source, laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV), signal processing electronics, and efficient classification algorithm. The innovations in RASA will enable the system to operate beyond 10 meters with a high probability of detection (>99.9%) and a low false alarm rate (<0.1%). RASA will be compact (14 in. x 8 in. x 8 in.), lightweight (<16 lb), and suitable for field applications. In Phase I, POC designed, analyzed, and fabricated a breadboard prototype, and, using the prototype, successfully identified the fill level, state, and fill materials in containers, thus demonstrating the feasibility of RASA. In Phase II, POC proposes to develop a fully functional and portable beta system or a brass-board prototype that provides the above required capabilities.