Handheld chemical threat monitor for the soldier system

Abstract

A small, low-cost sensor capable of autonomous detection of a wide variety of chemical agents in either vapor, particulate or liquid phase is urgently needed. It now appears that this need also extends to homeland defense and the vast network of civilian security forces including police, fire, public health and emergency medical personnel. We are developing a low-cost, compact infrared Chemical Threat Monitor (CTM) that could meet this need. This palm-sized handheld instrument combines Foster-Miller's unique optical "wedge" technology with novel, disposable infrared fiber optic sensors for sample collection. These technologies will be coupled to emerging high sensitivity, low-cost uncooled linear array infrared detectors optimized for this application. This combination will provide the individual user with most of the capability of today's expensive FTIR units in a miniature robust unit that has no moving parts. In this paper we will describe the CTM device, its operation, and present preliminary results on liquid chemical agent simulants.