The Ratiometric NDIR Analyzer for Robotic Platforms

Almost all of America¿s energy needs are supplied by the combustion of fossil fuels, and a great amount of anthropogenic CO2 is a byproduct of this process. Instrumentation is needed to (1) better track the CO2 as it is processed by the global carbon cycle and (2) improve the prediction of the consequences of this form of energy production. The instrumentation must be deployed on small balloons and other robotic platforms and must achieve 1 ppm accuracy for a temporal resolution of less than 30 seconds. This project will design and build a radiometric, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) instrument that will be appropriate for airborne and stationary platforms and can be integrated into a distributed network to determine the effects of anthropogenic CO2. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The NDIR technology would provide critical information on the environment. A large number of analyzers, approximately 100,000 per year, will be needed to serve the needs of the full network.