TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Expeditionary UUV Neutralization System (EUNS) in PMS-408

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the solicitation. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a trace chemical / explosive sensor system for underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO) applications that is effective for TNT and other nitro-based underwater UXO analytes of interest.

DESCRIPTION: Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) response teams encounter a variety of underwater explosive threats including limpet mines, naval mines, underwater improvised explosive devices (UW-IEDs) and other UXO. A trace chemical/explosive sensor system will provide improved classification and identification of suspect underwater targets in missions for which acoustic and/or visual imaging alone are not effective. The chemical sensor package desired from this project will be capable of being integrated into a man-portable remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The goal of this program is to expand the existing trace chemical detection capability to include TNT and other nitro-based underwater UXO analytes of interest, such as RDX, PETN and HMX, as well as home-made explosive (HME) compound such as ammonium nitrate, triacetone triperoxide (TATP), and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD). The current state-of-the-art is a single analyte sensor for detection of TNT, which only partially addresses the Navy’s requirement to detect the full range of explosive threats.

PHASE I: Define and develop a concept for a multi-analyte sensor system to detect explosive threat compounds of interest at operationally relevant concentrations in seawater. Perform modeling and simulation to predict effectiveness against TNT and other nitro-based underwater UXO analytes of interest, such as RDX, PETN and HMX, as well as home-made explosive (HME) compound such as ammonium nitrate, triacetone triperoxide (TATP), and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD). The weight and volume of the sensor should not exceed 25 pounds and 250 cubic inches. The maximum power requirement should not exceed 2.5 watts. The sensor’s response time should not exceed 2 minutes. The minimum detection limit threshold should be 500 parts per trillion.

PHASE II: Produce a prototype sensor system based on the Phase I work. The prototype will be used to demonstrate and validate the concept developed in Phase I in an operationally relevant environment. The weight and volume of the prototype sensor should not exceed 25 pounds and 250 cubic inches. The maximum power requirement should not exceed 2.5 watts. The probability of detection threshold value is .80 and the objective value is .95. The probability of false alarm threshold value is less than .15 and the objective value is .05. The sensor’s response time should not exceed 2 minutes. The minimum detection limit threshold should be 500 parts per trillion. The sensor reliability should be greater than 80 percent and should operate from the ocean surface to a depth of at least 300 feet.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Integrate prototype sensor system into a man-portable ROV and demonstrate detection of underwater UXO chemical signature targets in an operationally relevant environment prior to transition to PMS-408. Private Sector Commercial Potential: Detection of underwater chemicals for pipeline inspection.

REFERENCES:

• Charles, PT, André A. Adams, Jeffrey R. Deschamps, Scott Veitch, Al Hanson and Anne W. Kusterbeck, Detection of Explosives in a Dynamic Marine Environment Using a Moored TNT Immunosensor, Sensors 2014, 14(3), 4074-4085; doi:10.3390/s140304074.
• Adams, André A., Paul T. Charles, Scott P. Veitch, Alfred Hanson, Jeffrey R. Deschamps, and Anne W. Kusterbeck, (2013), REMUS100 AUV with an integrated microfluidic system for explosives detection, Anal Bioanal Chem 405:5171–5178, DOI 10.1007/s00216-013-6853-x.
• Andre A. Adams, Paul T. Charles, Jeffrey R. Deschamps, and Anne W. Kusterbeck, Demonstration of Submersible High-Throughput Microfluidic Immunosensors for Underwater Explosives Detection, Analytical Chemistry (2012), dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac2009788.
• Paul T. Charles, André A. Adams, Jeffrey R. Deschamps, Scott P. Veitch, Alfred Hanson, and Anne W. Kusterbeck, Explosives detection in the marine environment using UUV-modified immunosensor, Proc. SPIE 8018, 80181U (2011).
• Dock, Matthew L.; Harper, Ross J.; Knobbe, Ed, Combined pre-concentration and real-time in-situ chemical detection of explosives in the marine environment, 2010, OCEAN SENSING AND MONITORING II, Book Series: Proceedings of SPIE-The International Societ
• Trace Chemical Sensing of Explosives: Edited by Ronald L. Woodfin. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470085202.fmatter/pdf

KEYWORDS: Chemical sensor, explosive sensor, underwater sensor, remotely operated vehicle, underwater UXO, underwater IEDs

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