A -- FUSION OF ACOUSTICS AND GROUND PENETRATING RADAR SENSORS

Notice Date

September 18, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Acquisition Center -- Washington Operations Office, 2461 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 22331-0700

ZIP Code

22331-0700

Response Due

January 11, 2001

Point of Contact

Peggy Melanson, 703-325-6096

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via (Peggy.Melanson@cacw.army.mil)

Description

The US Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) Acquisition Center-Washington (CAC-W) on behalf of the CECOM Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD), Science & Technology Division is conducting market research for vendors having mine detection technology with all the capabilities discussed below. The objective of this research and development effort is to assess buried mine detection capability using a combination of seismic/acoustics and a high resolution ground penetrating radar sensors. The acoustics sensor will detect mines by inducing seismic vibrations in the ground using airborne sound and detecting increased surface vibrations over the mine using a laser Doppler vibrometer. The high resolution ground penetrating radar will complement the acoustics sensor with the goal of providing increased detection probability and a reduced false alarm rate. The two sensors will be integrated on a common motorized vehicle. Two separate arrangements will be investigated: 1) Close in detection in which the sensors need only maintain 30 cm. of ground clearance. 2) Standoff detection in which detection must be made at distances exceeding 7 meters in front of the vehicle. For close in detection the two sensors will scan an area exceeding 2 m. in width and proceed at a speed exceeding one kph. Both antitank and antipersonnel mine detection capability is desired. The ground penetrating radar will have a resolution better than 5 cm. in both dimensions of the ground plane and have a bandwidth exceeding one GHz at frequencies that penetrate the ground. Processing will be used to improve resolution and to reduce the ground return. For standoff detection the radar and acoustic sensors must be able to detect mines and mine simulants at distances of 7 m. or greater. At 7 m. the down track direction resolution will be better than 10 cm, the cross track resolution will better than 50 cm., and the sweep width will exceed 3 m. The immediate forward speed of the sensors will move be greater than one kph with a long-term goal of 20 kph. Since automatic detection algorithm development requires large amounts of mine and clutter data, extensive data collections will be necessary covering at least 1000 sq. m. with 200 individual mines. The modeling of the acoustics phenomenology will be part of this program. Since the forward speed requirements are incompatible with the use of a single focused laser beam the contractor will research ways to increase the forward speed by use of multiple lasers, whole field interferometry, of other techniques. These lasers must be capable of detecting ground motion of less than 10 microns/second at 100 Hz. The lasers will be isolated from the sound source by both passive and active techniques. All submittals will be reviewed; however, the contractor shall be responsible for any costs associated with preparing responses. The response should be no longer than seven pages and must include information supporting claims that the contractor can satisfy the requirements. All capability claims must be supported. This support should include demonstrations at sites not controlled by the contractor and witnessed by independent personnel. Those interested should respond at the following address: CECOM Acquisition Center-Washington, AMSEL-AC-WB-B, 2461 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22331-0700 (Attention: Peggy Melanson, 703-325-6096).

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010920/ASOL015.HTM (W-261 SN50X9H0)