Remote Sound Sensing to Detect and Characterize Deeply Buried Targets

Discovering, locating, and characterizing foreign buried facilities remotely is a high National priority. Most buried facility has machinery that emits acoustic energy through outside vents that possibly has uniquely identifiable spectra. MRC has a novel proprietary laser sensor for remote sound sensing possibly capable of detecting and characterizing target emissions from buried targets. Feasibility to detect and recover acoustic waveforms is proven in four existing contracts and one previous contract. MRC made measurements (Internal Research) at a US buried facility. Analysis of data from the target and background acoustic signals indicates significant differences (sound levels and spectra) that should be detectable and possibly identifiable at useful operational ranges. In this project MRC will 1) develop an estimate of the foreign target acoustic signatures based on measured data, technical material, and other Government data; 2) develop potential system operational concept options for various platforms; 3) develop a sensor technology feasibility assessment of our sensor and a system concept design including a technology roadmap; 4) produce estimates for unit cost of system components, producibility of technology components, and develop system requirements for system support elements; and 5)develop and deliver a final report including all results and recommendations for Phase II.