The Marines seek the development of portable terrestrial sensor kit that allows up to 10 remote sensor nodes to wirelessly send footstep detection events to a central base station. The central base station is manned by a member of a tactical unit carrying a multipurpose tablet or PDA. The sensor system must be capable of operating for 7 days continuously and be rugged enough to survive the harsh battlefield environment. The objectives of the Phase I research is to conduct trade studies and perform design tasks for developing the small terrestrial sensor system. The study includes evaluating and selecting the various critical design elements and includes 1. Evaluating and selecting an appropriate wireless network technology 2. Specifying the Sensor Node hardware design 3. Specifying the signal processing needs 4. Developing the Base Station Architecture and components. 5. Specifying the user interface and use cases The Phase I proposal addresses the design trade-offs and technical considerations related to each of the above design elements. This includes evaluating the available technology and their impact on the system design. Upon completion of the Phase I, Adaptive Methods will have the necessary design work completed to construct an first article EDM.
Benefit: The immediate anticipated benefits of the proposed solution include enhancing the situational awareness of small tactical units without significantly increasing their equipment loading. This increase in awareness would translate into increased reaction time and safety for units deployed in unfriendly territory. By utilizing remote wireless nodes embedded with sensitive sensor technology, a system would also aide in detecting threats not in direct visual contact as well as assist fatigued troops in staying more vigilant. Outside of the DoD, commercial applications include local law enforcement, private security, and border patrol. Extremely low cost versions could also benefit various markets supported by the public. These commercial applications include monitoring for wildlife by hunters as well as security for hikers and campers.
Keywords: Controller/Alarm Function, Controller/Alarm Function, Terrestrial Sensors, ruggedized, Sensor String, Multimodal Sensors, Seismic/Acoustic
