INEXPENSIVE OPTICAL SENSOR FOR AEROSOL ANALYSIS

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INEXPENSIVE AEROSOL SENSOR WHICH RAPIDLY QUANTIFIES THE SIZE AND DENSITY OF SUSPENDED PARTICLES IN AIR AS A FUNCTION OF ALTITUDE IS PROPOED FOR A90-101. THE DEVICE IS SMALL (12" X 2" X 1") AND REQUIRES MINIMUM MAINTENANCE. THE DEVICE USES TWO LASER BEAMS (LASER DIODE) TO ILLUMINATE THE VERTICAL COLUMN OF AIR TO CAUSEE LIGHT SCATTERING OFF THE PARTICLES. THE SCATTERED LIGHT FROM EACH VOLUME EELEMENT IN THE COLUMN IS THEN MEASURED WITH A UNIQUE OPTICAL SCANNING SYSTEM. DATA AREE TRANSMITTED TO AN ANALYSIS STATION WHEERE A COMPUTER CALCULATES THE PARTICLE AVERAGE SIZE, THE PARTICLES NUMERICAL DENSITY AND THE HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND. THE SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE DEVICE IS THAT SUCH SENSORS CAN COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER TO THE POINT WHERE ON COMMAND THE INTERROGATION BEAM OF ONE SENSOR CAN READ THE SIGNALS COMING FROM THE PRIMARY BEAM OF A NEIGHBORING SENSOR. THIS FEATURE OF THE SENSOR IS VERY USEFUL FOR BATTLEFIELD APPLICATIONS WHERE A SENSOR MAY SUSTAIN PARTIAL DAMAGE.