Electrical Energy Sensing Device for EOD Detection, Location and Diagnosis of Electronic Safe & Armed Fuzes

Navy SBIR 20.2 - Topic N202-127

Office of Naval Research (ONR) - Ms. Lore-Anne Ponirakis [email protected]

Opens: June 3, 2020 - Closes: July 2, 2020 (12:00 pm ET)

 

 

N202-127       TITLE: Electrical Energy Sensing Device for EOD Detection, Location and Diagnosis of Electronic Safe & Armed Fuzes

 

RT&L FOCUS AREA(S): General Warfighting Requirements (GWR)

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors, Battlespace, Weapons

 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an electrical energy-sensing device for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) detection, location and diagnosis of Electronic Safe and Armed Fuzes (ESAF). The sensing device must be non-invasive and should interrogate the hazard from the furthest distance at which the solution can reliably function.� It should be in a hand-held form factor that is below 15 pounds, including the power supply.

 

DESCRIPTION: Modern munitions are making increased use of ESAF which do not provide any external indications of their status (armed or not, energized or not, working or not, etc.). [Ref 1] These essentially unknown conditions pose increased risk to United States Explosive Ordnance Disposal (US EOD) technicians working on such items.�

 

US EOD Forces have the need to non-invasively interrogate and diagnose the status of electronic components within fuzes from Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). Electronic fuzing can consist of electronic circuits, batteries, or charged capacitors within a metal fuze that initiate the firing train of the munition. In UXO situations, the ordnance fuze may not have functioned as designed, but still contains charged capacitors or a charged battery that can still function the munition, posing a threat to EOD technicians responsible for clearing the hazard.���

 

US EOD Forces require the ability to determine the presence of a charged or depleted battery, firing capacitor, or active circuit within an electronic fuze. The fuze may be of an unknown type, with no previous knowledge of the internal fuze design or layout. The fuze body (ogive and housing) may be metallic or plastic. In addition, depending on design, electronic safe and armed fuzes fire in response to a variety of modalities, including but not limited to: radar, thermal, infrared (IR), acoustic or vibration effects. As such, US EOD Forces would interrogate the hazard from the furthest distance at which the solution can reliably function. The fuze cannot be touched or otherwise accessed. The following are essential characteristics:

 

Range:� To minimize the exposure to a potential hazard, the EOD technician must be able to work without contacting the UXO. If the EOD technician must be close to the ordnance item in order to function successfully, then to the greatest extent possible, the sensor should not trigger a target�s area denial, anti-tamper, or self-destruct features. Maximum standoff from the UXO for a reliable detection, location, and diagnosis is preferred.

 

Accuracy:� Determination of the presence of stored or active electrical energy. The EOD technician must be able to make a charged or depleted determination and be confident that the information is correct. Determination of the magnitude of said energy is highly desirable. The device should provide the diagnostic capability for fuze status such as armed or not, energized or not, working or not, etc.

 

Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP):� US EOD field units have limited capability to transport equipment; therefore, size and weight should be minimized. The device should have a form factor that is handheld, and weigh less than 15 pounds, including the power supply.

 

Environmental:� The current need for the device is for surface munition applications with an expected operating temperature range of 0 to 125 �F.

 

PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of the concept in meeting Navy needs for an Electrical Energy Sensing Device for EOD detection, location, and diagnosis of ESAF. Establish that the concept can be feasibly developed into a useful product for the Navy.� Prepare a Phase II plan.

 

PHASE II: Develop a Phase II prototype for evaluation. Evaluate the prototype to determine its capability in meeting the performance goals defined in the Phase II Statement of Work (SoW) and the Navy need for Electrical Energy Sensing, in this case via a device that will enable US EOD technicians to detect, locate, and diagnose an Electronic Safe and Armed Device. Demonstrate the device capabilities on a variety of configurations including, but not limited to:�

1)    Known configurations: M762A1, M767A1, or M782 fuze for artillery rounds, the M7 spider anti-personnel munitions system, fuzes with area denial or anti-tamper features or self-destruct features [Ref 2],�

2)    Unknown configurations with a variety of battery sizes and unique circuitry (IED surrogates).�

 

Deliver a minimum of five prototypes to the Navy for evaluation.

 

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Apply the knowledge gained in Phase II to build an advanced Electrical Energy Sensing Device suitably packaged with a power source and portable configuration. Statistically characterize the device performance to determine confidence and reliability across a selection on known and unknown ESAF configurations. Meet the desired Objective values of 80% confidence and 85% reliability. Collaborating with EOD technical and military staff, support test and validation to certify and qualify the system for US EOD use. Explore the potential to transfer the device to other military and commercial applications. Use market research and analysis to identify the most promising technology areas. Develop manufacturing plans to facilitate a smooth transition to the US EOD.as well as other industries such as construction or manufacturing technology.

 

REFERENCES:

1. Sauerlaender, Friedrich, Design Methodology for Safe and Arm Devices, Naval Air Weapons Center China Lake report TP8504, pp.4-5.

 

2. �MIL-DTL-32264, DETAIL SPECIFICATION: FUZE, ARTILLERY, ELECTRONIC TIME, M762A1 AND FUZE, ELECTRONIC TIME, M767A1 LESS BOOSTER (30-AUG-2007) [SUPERSEDED BY MIL-DTL-32264A, A CONTROLLED DISTRIBUTION DOCUMENT].� EverySpec Standards, Everyspec.com, http://everyspec.com/MIL-SPECS/MIL-SPECS-MIL-DTL/MIL-DTL-32264_54467.

 

KEYWORDS: Electrical-Energy-Sensor, Fuze, US EOD, Detect, Locate, Diagnose