ChemSIGMA network of compact integrated sensors for trace gas detection, characterization and threat assessment

Physical Sciences Inc. proposes the enhancement of the ChemSIGMA early warning system, which provides a wide-area distributed detection network designed to persistently monitor for airborne chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial compounds. ChemSIGMA is a physically accurate probabilistic framework for intelligent data fusion of responses from chemical point sensors in a distributed network. The capability uses DARPA’s SIGMA architecture to achieve data transmission and real-time execution of several algorithmic layers, as well as provide a user display interface with access to threat decisions and characterization. Specifically, the proposed effort will enhance the sensitivity and contextual fusion capability of the ChemSIGMA system while implementing new features in compliance with deployment in increasingly difficult operational environments. The improved ChemSIGMA capability will be demonstrated at US Government-led field trials using a network system consisting of 20 chemical point sensing units and 3 standoff sensors which will be built and qualified as part of the proposed Phase II program.