Hand-Held Chemical Threat Monitor for the Soldier System

Service infantry and reconnaissance elements have long-standing operational requirements for a field capability to rapidly assess chemical threats, monitor air quality, inspect, examine and in some cases, test systems and materials in forward deployedareas without extensive logistic support. Compact hand-held devices tailored to rapid response are needed to facilitate service infantry and reconnaissance deployment to areas of the world not normally supportable with a complicated logistics trail. Recentbreakthroughs make such a device a reality.During Phase I, Foster-Miller will design and demonstrate a radically novel Chemical Threat Monitor (CTM) and assess overall feasibility and determine sensitivity limits for typical chemical agents. At the heartof the device would be a miniature mid-infrared spectrometer coupled to tiny fiber optic sensor probes that readily identify and qualitatively characterize a broad range of chemical threats and materials. The entire device including the battery power packwould be about the size of a small pocket calculator, making it readily transportable and concealable. In Phase II, Foster-Miller will optimize miniature IR probes and the high throughput spectrometer for targeted applications, including automatedspectral recognition and necessary electronics for a field deployable prototype and testing at a DoD facility. (P-01207)The ability to successfully perform in-the-field sophisticated autonomous chemical threat or material analysis with a hand-held devicewill create major new markets for this unique analytical instrument in both military and commercial applications. Chemical process control and environmental monitoring will be major benefactors and present vast market potential.