PDA-EDIT Scanner for Coast Guard Ship Inspection

The technology to be developed in the Phase I efforts is based on prior research in Electromagnetic (EM) gradiometry and Resonant Microstrip Patch Antenna (RMPA). The combination of these approaches has been used in successful demonstrations in the mining industry for determining coal depth and scanning ahead for barriers/obstructions. Each technology has been proven to mitigate specific problems that occur with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Phase I efforts will be dedicated to adapting these technologies into a handheld device that can be used to search for hidden rooms and compartments on board sea-borne vessels. Essentially, the theory behind checking for an undocumented room or storage area is the same as for looking for anomalies in a coal seam. Thus, much of the preliminary research has already been completed, and it is more a matter of fine-tuning it for a new set of detection parameters.