Novel EMI Sensor Arrays for Rapid Standoff Detection of Buried Explosive Hazards (EMISArray)
Abstract
The project EMISArray addresses the problem of rapid standoff discrimination between metal parts of dangerous buried items such as landmines, submunitions, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and innocuous clutter objects using electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensing. Although numerous research efforts have been undertaken over the past two decades to advance the EMI sensing technology from conventional metal detection to advanced object classification, there is still a notable gap between the practical requirements of Navy / Marine Corps missions and the current state of EMI technology. The project aims to close the identified knowledge gaps by focusing on two specific research tracks:A) novel, non-traditional approaches to EMI sensor array design,B) novel dynamic data processing and interpretation algorithms for target signature extraction, soil compensation and object identification.Within the first research track, design of new EMI sensor array configurations will be analyzed as a multi-objective optimization problem. The idea is to come up with new designs that would keep the practicality of existing metal detectors in terms of sensitivity, size, weight, power, etc. while providing much richer spatiotemporal information needed for advanced object discrimination. New sensor design tools, optimization solvers and simulators shall be devised for that purpose. Different coil array candidate designs will be analyzed against selected performance metrics, and the one providing the best trade-off between the performance and practical implementation feasibility will be selected as the reference design.Within the second research track, new algorithms for the reconstruction of specific EMI signatures of unknown buried objects from soil-contaminated sensor signals shall be investigated. The algorithms will be based on dynamic data processing to support rapid, on-the-move detection of buried explosive hazards. Different approaches to object discrimination/identification using extracted signatures as input vectors shall also be explored. Training, testing and validation of signatureextraction, soil compensation and object identification algorithms will be conducted on synthetic and measured data sets.For a proof-of-concept of the EMI sensor array and matching detection algorithms, a portable experimental demonstrator shall be devised. The demonstrator will include a search head with encapsulated coil array assembly, portable data acquisition electronics and a PC for data processing and interpretation. Novel design and fabrication techniques utilizing advanced additive manufacturing will be explored.Experimental demonstrator shall be first evaluated in a laboratory environment using a suitable testbed and a representative set ofmetal objects. Final validation will be conducted at an outdoor test site where objects can be buried both in neutral and mineralized types of soil. It is expected that the demonstrator would be normally operated as a handheld device at first with a possibility to mount it to specific unmanned ground platform(s) if needed at later development stages.The anticipated outcomes of the project refer to the creation of knowledge in the field of advanced EMI sensors and buried object detection algorithms. This knowledge is envisioned to be used as a scientific and technological enabler of future research and development efforts aimed towards the creation of compact and lightweight tools for rapid standoff detection of buried hazards from unmanned ground (or possibly aerial) platforms. The approach might prove to be especially useful in a context of multi-sensor platforms, as deeper integration of the improved EMI sensor with ground penetrating radars (GPR) has the potential to unlock new GPR detection capabilities, such as improved imaging, more accurate target localization, etc.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2023
- Source ID
- N629092312015
Entities
People
- Davorin Ambrus
Organizations
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy