SBIR-STTR Award

Nomadics proposes to implement its proven Fido explosives detection system to produce a system specifically designed to identify the trace chemical signature of explosives on personnel who may be involved in the fabrication or transport of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including suicide bombs. The system can further be used for forensic purposes in connecting detected explosives to specific individuals or incident sites. Studies have shown that persons handling explosives become contaminated with molecular residues of the chemical. This contamination is likely to be found on their clothing and on their person. The residues are very difficult to remove, and for highly sensitive sensors such as Nomadics Fido may be present in detectable quantities for hours or even days after the subject handled the explosives. Through simple transfer methods and the analysis of readily available samples, Fido under the proposed concept will serve as a valuable tool in locating and identifying persons involved in fabricating and transporting IEDs and in providing evidentiary forensics support in the apprehension and prosecution of those persons. The advanced status of Fido-though new to this application-will allow Nomadics to move quickly to proof-of-concept and rapid progress toward the acquisition and deployment phase

The goal of this work is the development of technology for detecting trace levels of explosives as an aid to force protection and for acquisition of forensic evidence. In Phase I of this effort we demonstrated that personnel involved in the manufacture, storage, deployment, and triggering of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are likely to be contaminated with trace amounts of explosive residue and showed the effectiveness of using the Nomadics Fido sensor and related sample collection techniques as a useful tool to screen for these individuals. Under the proposed Phase II effort, Nomadics will continue to improve and refine the Fido sample collection methodology and perform additional tests to enhance confidence in the technology. Following a series of field trials, we propose to deploy the system with end users in-theatre for operational assessment. The following activities are proposed

Keywords:
Explosives Detection, Sensor, Tnt, Afp, Ied, Amplifying Fluorescent Polymer, Improvised Explosive Device, Forensics