Covert Modular Situational Awareness Monitor for Biologic Event Identification & Geolocation

A need exists for inexpensive, disposable, broadcast capable biological sensors that also provide site weather conditions. The state-of-the-art does not meet the need both in terms of biological sensor cost/size and lack of a low-cost deployment system. ADA proposes under this three-phased SBIR program to develop a system comprised of a suite of covert, modular, lightweight, rugged and easily deployable sensor pods. The sensor pod capabilities include unattended measurement of 1) weather, 2) biological warfare agent (BWA) identification, and 3) BWA concentration and triangulation. These sensor pods auto-network to relay spatially and temporally stamped data to a central command and control center. ADA will rapidly and cost-effectively develop the system by leveraging two enabling technologies 1) ADA’s Situational Awareness Monitor (SAM) system, 2) small, low-power, low-cost biosensors based on interferometric optical waveguide chip arrays that were successfully developed by Georgia Tech Research Institute. Phase I will focus on the evaluation and testing of the measurement capabilities for biological warfare agents of anthrax and Ebola. Phase II effort focuses on full development of the new biological sensor modules and the customization of the SAM network for this application including the incorporation of plume projection software along with significant field testing.