Mission-Adaptable Chemical Sensor (MACS)
Abstract
MACS (Mission Adaptable Chemical Sensor) commenced as a concept for creating a complex chemical signatures potentially targeting illicit operations of interest, notably irregular or covert manufacturing sites of WMDs, IEDs, or drugs. In order to do this, the initial CONOPS was for the placement of a MACS in a very low altitude UAV. The CONOPS further would permit autonomous guidance within the sensory area of interest by permitting MACS software to adjust the mission waypoints so as to home in on the source of a particular "disturbance," or a plume containing the signature elements. As DARPA embraced the concept of MACS, the mission capabilities became more general. Not only would the initial mission concept remain a distinct possibility, but many others as well. What is the MACS concept? The answer is essentially twofold: (1) to produce a system that can ingest a relatively small quantity of air at 1 atm pressure that is then assayed within a core submillimeter wave precision spectrometer-based sensor; and to surround the basic spectrometer with a flexible set of subsystems that will provide great flexibility and thus "mission adaptability."
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 27, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA513704
Entities
People
- Frank Patten
- Keith Reiss