Feasibility of Using Impulse Radar to Detect and Identify Concealed Weapons

This proposal seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of using impulse radar techniques to detect and identify concealed weapons. It relies on the fact that a radar impulse will excite natural electromagnetic resonances which characterize the size, shape and material composition of an object. These resonances are present in the scattered transient return from the object and can be extracted by algorithms which were developed by the EMP community in mid 1970. We are proposing to make experimental measurements of the resonance region signatures of weapons and potential nuisance objects, extract the resonance features from them, and use these features to train a neural network to differentiate the weapons from nuisances. Our program concludes with performing benchmarks on the signal processing algorithms, determining the limits of current impulse radar hardware technology, and summarizing the operational limits of our concept weapons detection system. Anticipated Benefits: Successful completion of our program will result in a demonstration that concealed weapons have unique electromagnetic resonance features which can be used as a fingerprint to identify them. Potential applications include use by the military during peacekeeping and humanitarian aid missions for checkpoints, guarding secured areas, and in apprehending and guarding detainees. Civilian law enforcement would benefit as well especially with the development of a handheld detector. It would allow them to unobtrusively determine the presence of weapons in a group of individuals and allow them to assess the risks of their law enforcement actions.