Advanced, Man-Portable Locator of Magnetic Targets

This SBIR proposal addresses a high priority DoD need for an improved man-portable magnetic sensor to detect and localize mines and UneXploded Ordnance (UXO). UXO field testing has clearly shown the superiority of magnetic-based technology over other technologies such as ground penetrating radar and infrared sensors. Total field magnetometers and gradiometers, although relatively unaffected by motion, require extensive post processing of data. As a result, real time localization is not possible. Single axis vector field gradiometers suffer from limited dynamic range and can not determine all the field tensor components necessary for real time detection and location. This program will develop a short baseline room temperature Three Sensor Gradiometer (TSG) sensor which will provide superior sensitivity and dynamic range with unequaled rejection of motion noise. The resulting technology will provide a significant improvement in overall detection range of stand alone room temperature magnetic sensors while providing a unique real time localization capability.