A Coded Alternating Micromachined Retroreflector Array (CAMERA)

RSI will develop a technology to improve fire fighter visibility and enable tracking of position/identity. The Coded Alternating Micromachined Retroreflector Array (CAMERA) will use RSI's microscale retroreflectors, a near-infrared (IR) coating and near-IR sources pulsing on alternating video frames to encode fire fighter identities, and a near-IR video camera. These grain-of-sand-sized markers would have different spectral signatures. To filter out IR-emitting fires and provide spectral information, a pulsed light interrogation scheme will be used. The IR diodes will alternate, and an inexpensive near-IR-capable camera will be used to observe the scene. The ratio between the signal on alternating frames will identify the target. The Phase 1 program will involve improvement in the optical quality, creating a unique IR coding scheme, development of a laboratory interrogation unit, and a demonstration of the concept. COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: The usefulness of a micro-fabricated optically interrogated tags and markers would not end with their pervasive use in firefighter identification. Police and other first responders could use them for a variety of marking purposes, identifying evidence, locations, victims, and suspects. Commercial markets include building security (hospital patient management or inventory control, for instance), wildlife management, and currency and document validation.