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Publication Number
US-10670460-B1
Publication Date
2020-06-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a highly flexible stand-off distance chemical detector system such as can be used, for example, for standoff detection of explosives. Instead of a combined laser interrogation source and optical content detector on the same platform, those features are carried on separate platforms, including having plural optical content detectors on individual platforms. In one embodiment, the detector platforms are mobile remote-control apparatus. This allows collection and evaluation of optical content/information from multiple collection positions/directions and high flexibility in maneuverability of the collection function relative the target.
Core Innovation
The described invention relates to a multistatic system for detecting chemical constituents at stand-off distances from a target. A base sub-system includes a base platform, a shared electromagnetic excitation source that is aimable or steerable to the target, a controller, and a base wireless communication interface. Multiple detector sub-systems each include a detector platform, an optical content collector, an optical content evaluator, and a detector wireless communication interface.
The controller actuates and directs the shared excitation source to the target, controls each detector sub-system to collect optical content from the target after excitation and process the collected optical content, and receives via the base wireless communication interface the processed optical content from the detector sub-systems. The controller evaluates the received processed optical content from multiple, spatially diverse monostatic optical detectors having a shared excitation source and area of coverage for a chemical constituent of interest.
The system architecture supports mobility and coordination using plural detector sub-systems on mobile remotely controlled platforms, including unmanned vehicles. Targeting is enabled through beam-directing gimbal head functionality and a target location lock-on approach using an aiming laser operating at a different wavelength than the excitation source, with or without a collocating laser. The described optical content includes Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence detection, fluorescence lifetime detection, and reflectance detection, with system configurations that support frequency control and programmable wavelength evaluation.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims covering a multistatic stand-off chemical detection system and a method of improved chemical detection using shared excitation and multi-position collection with wavelength-correlated processing. The independent claims share the core inventive concept of multi-static, spatially diverse monostatic optical collections driven by a shared excitation source and evaluated via coordinated processing.
Shared aimable electromagnetic excitation with base control and wireless communications
The base sub-system comprises a shared electromagnetic excitation source that is aimable or steerable to a target from a stand-off distance, a controller, and a base wireless communication interface.
Spatially diverse monostatic optical detector sub-systems with optical evaluation
Plural detector sub-systems each comprise a detector platform, an optical content collector, an optical content evaluator of optical content collected from the optical content collector, and a detector wireless communication interface.
Coordinated multi-static excitation, collection, processing, and reception for evaluation
The controller actuates and directs the shared excitation source to the target; controls each detector sub-system to collect optical content after excitation and process the collected optical content; receives via the base wireless communication interface the processed optical content from the plural detector sub-systems; and evaluates the received processed optical content from multiple, spatially diverse monostatic optical detectors with a shared excitation source and area of coverage for a chemical constituent of interest.
Shared excitation illumination from multiple different positions and wavelength-correlated processing
A method of improved detection illuminates a target with shared electromagnetic excitation energy of a predetermined wavelength or wavelengths; collects optical content from the target after excitation from multiple and different positions relative to the target; and processes the collected optical content at wavelengths correlated for correlations to one or more chemicals of interest.
Multi-static spatially diverse monostatic collections promoted for improved detection
The method provides that multi-static collection of optical content from multiple, spatially diverse monostatic optical collections based on a shared excitation source and area of coverage relative a target can be used to promote improved detection of the one or more chemicals of interest.
Overall, the independent claims cover a base-controlled multistatic system with a shared aimable electromagnetic excitation source communicating processed optical content from multiple spatially diverse monostatic detectors, and a corresponding method that uses shared excitation illumination, multi-position optical collection, and wavelength-correlated processing to improve detection of chemical constituents.
Stated Advantages
Improved detection of one or more chemicals of interest using multi-static collection based on a shared excitation source and area of coverage.
Improved detection of chemical constituents at stand-off distances by evaluating processed optical content from multiple, spatially diverse monostatic optical detectors with a shared excitation source.
Documented Applications
Detection of chemical constituents at stand-off distances, including explosives and IED-related scenarios, using multi-static optical detection.
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