Fast Response Chemical Sensor for Landmine Multi-Detector Device

After initially being located by a separate landmine detector system, such as a metal detector or ground penetrating radar, a buried object can be analyzed by a fast response chemical-sensing detector to confirm or reject the presence of explosives with ahigh degree of a confidence. The lack of such a desirable confirmatory device is due to the absence of a portable, fast response chemical sensor capable of detecting molecules of energetic materials at pg/cm2 or ng/cm3 (in soil) concentrations. ImplantSciences Corporation has developed an advanced sensor capable of detecting vapors of the major explosives TNT, RDX, PETN, etc. within 0.2-3 seconds. The portable sensor has a sensitivity enough to detect the buried mine, and even trace its location from amoderate distance, if the vapors can be delivered to the sensor. Explosives material particle/vapor extraction from the media surrounding the landmine, transportation to the chemical detector, and injection into the sampling port will be accomplishedusing a cyclone system. In Phase I an explosives vapor/particle sampling module will be developed, interfaced with a chemical vapor detector, and prepared for field testing. In Phase II the chemical detector prototype will become a component of aLandmine Multi-Detector Device Confirmation of the detection of explosives is essential due to the high rate of false positives from most devices now in use. Land mines are a special application in that remote sensing and confirmation are desirable.Existing portable chemical sensors are not capable of remote sensing and have limited sensitivity. The proposed cyclone vapor/particle sampling module accomplishes these goals and can create a chemical confirmatory system for a landmine with significantreduction in the false-positive response.