Chemical and Explosive Vapor Detection in Shipping Containers with Remotely Accessed Microcantilever Array Sensors

We present a highly qualified team, including security experts and technical experts, and a patent-pending new microcantilever array sensor technology (which has been tested for chemical and explosive detection) to be integrated with low-cost electronics and networking modules and implemented as an inexpensive and easily deployable solution to the shipping container inspection problem. Because of the flexibility and advantages of the proposed platform, such a system could provide monitoring of containers for pollutants, toxic industrial chemicals, and chemical and biological agents with one low-cost sensor array in each container. The overarching objective of this work is to develop sensing inspection and assessment technologies for remotely screening in-bound shipping containers for use on-shore during container loading and unloading, and in offshore holding areas for inbound container ships. In Phase I of the program, we will develop a sensor and implementation methodology, and demonstrate proof-of principle data collection and analysis. In phase II of the award, larger arrays of more sensitive microcantilevers will be fabricated and packaged with standard ICs for implementation in a small network of sensor units embedded in two or more shipping containers. These containers will undergo a field test with chemical and/or explosive laden mock cargo.