Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Sensors

The major technology areas being addressed within IDCAST are CBRNE sensors and remote sensing. An overriding focus of IDCAST is layered sensing, which involves fusion of CBRNE sensor data with remote sensor data in order to provide complete sensing/data acquisition solutions for the purpose of enabling universal situation awareness.
 
Nanostructured materials and modified nanoparticles are being investigated as sensing elements for a number of CBRNE sensing applications. Applications important to Homeland Security and the Department of Defense include the detection of explosives in air and bio-agents in food or drinking water. Applications in drug discovery and medical research involve detection of specific metabolites or biochemical’s within live biological cells and the development of targeted enhancement agents for medical resonance imaging respectively. Modified nanomaterials being investigated for these applications include TiO2, carbon nanostructures and liposome’s.
 

The Nanostructured Sensors group investigates new types of functional metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles, with potential applications in highly energetic materials, drug delivery, and novel sensors, which utilize quantum phenomena on the nanoscale.

Click here for more information on CBRNE sensors as IDCAST.

In other applications, sample complexity from chemical interferences eliminates the applicability of most sensing approaches; so we rely on microanalytical systems, such as microfabricated gas chromatographs (microGCs), where samples are collected, separated, and analyzed to provide the necessary analytical information.  MicroGCs can operate for weeks or months on battery power with limited use of consumables while providing complete chemical analyses in as little time as a few seconds.  Such systems can be integrated into a layered sensing network in much the same way as a single-analyte CBRNE sensors.

Remote Sensors

Research on sensors for remote sensing applications is mostly focused on optical or electro-optical sensors. Applications important to the Air Force include persistent surveillance camera systems. These systems typically use either large, high-resolution image sensors or arrays of smaller, lower resolution sensors. Research involves the development of advanced heterogeneous computing systems capable of processing the large amounts of data produced by these cameras, as well as low-weight, low-power, and low-cost embedded processing systems. Other research areas include the development and implementation of advanced 3-D imaging algorithms, hyper spectral imaging algorithms, and image enhancement algorithms.
 
Feasibility studies involving both applied and fundamental research concerning chemical and biological sensor applications or concepts can be performed. We have expertise with various electrochemical and optical transduction methods as well as protein isolation, purification, and immobilization techniques. We also have expertise with various polymers and sol-gels and methods of application used in sensor construction.
 
We have extensive expertise in various activities associated with the development and commercialization of chemical and biological sensors. These activities include performance optimization, proof of claims testing, and development of the associated quality control equipment and procedures. Sensors for a variety of medical, environmental and biotech applications have been developed.