A time difference of Arrival Blast Sensor

The munitions evaluation community requires an accurate measurement technique to charactize not only pressure-Vs-time traces but the blast wavefront direction as well. A2Z Technologies Corporation proposes a unique time difference of arrival appoach which measures 1) the pressure-Vs-time data, 2) the 2-D angle-of-arrival of the blast front, and 3) the blast front velocity. Given the proposed system, non-spherical and/or non-center initiated blast waves are readily characterized . Basic components of the system are muliple sensor heads, electronics modules containing amplication and TDOA circuitry, and a IEEE-488 based network of digitizers, all of which is under local computer control. During Phase I, a breadboard system will be designed and tested, include live-fire testing at Eglin AFB. At the end of the Phase I effort, breadboard testing results and prototype system design will provide a low-risk, rapid transition into prototype system development.