TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Battlespace, Electronics, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Tactical Remote Sensor System (TRSS)

OBJECTIVE: Develop a portable terrestrial sensor kit that is suited to the needs of small tactical units to assist in local area/perimeter security.

DESCRIPTION: Self-establishing networking technologies and miniaturized components are in common use for commercial and government applications. However, transitioning these technologies for use by small tactical units has not been forthcoming (Ref 3).

Small (Hockey Puck Size, weights of 500 grams or less) ruggedized (resin –encased) multimodal (Seismic/Acoustic) battery-operated (COIN sized batteries) sensors of a limited detection range (50 meters or less) combined with a smart-phone size controller/alarm device could satisfy this operational deficiency. These units operate under extremely stressful conditions, and their need for easy manipulation and configuration of these devices in darkness and daylight lends itself to many of the attributes encountered with smart-phone-user interfaces. The advent of multi-purpose tablet sized devices to the operating forces is beginning, and could serve as the basis for the Controller/Alarm platform. Up to 10 sensors shall be controlled by a control module.

Proposed concepts shall be capable of operation between 0-65 degrees Centigrade, with an operating life of 7 days (168 hours) before replacement/recharging of the power supply is required. Water immersion resistance requirements required is for no moisture penetration in 1 meter of water for 24 hours. Shock resistance requirements are for components to withstand a vertical drop of 5 meters onto a hard surface. Setup time requirements shall be less than 2 minutes threshold, 1 minute objective. Reliability requirements shall be 80% reliable for 168 hours with a threshold confidence factor of 80%, threshold 90%. Detection range of moving personnel threshold is 50 meters threshold, 75 meters objective.

The wireless control module shall have a display compatible with night vision devices, and possess both visual and vibration detection alerts, selectable as both, visual or vibration. The system shall have a self-establishing capability. The system shall have the ability to establish its own network upon activation.

PHASE I: The small business will define concepts and demonstrate the feasibility for the development of a Small Unit Terrestrial Sensor Kit and in meeting Marine Corps needs. The small business will further establish that the concepts can be developed into a useful product for the Marine Corps. Feasibility will be established by material testing, cost analysis, and analytical modeling, as appropriate. The small business will provide a Phase II development plan with performance goals and key technical milestones, and that will address technical risk reduction.

PHASE II: Based on the results of Phase I and the Phase II development plan, the small business will develop a scaled Small Unit Terrestrial Sensor Kit prototype for evaluation. The prototype will be evaluated to determine its capability in meeting the performance goals defined in the Phase II development plan and the Marine Corps requirements for the Small Sensors Kit. System performance will be demonstrated through prototype evaluation and modeling or analytical methods over the required range of parameters including numerous deployment cycles. Evaluation results will be used to refine the prototype into an initial design that will meet Marine Corps requirements. The company will prepare a Phase III development plan to transition the technology to Marine Corps use.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: If Phase II is successful, the company will be expected to support the Marine Corps in transitioning the Small Unit Terrestrial Sensor Kit for Marine Corps use. The company support the operational evaluation of the Small Sensor Kit to determine its effectiveness in an operationally relevant environment. The company will support the Marine Corps for test and validation to certify and qualify the system for Marine Corps use. Private Sector Commercial Potential: This effort has applicability to both commercial and government enterprises charged with providing sensor-based security solutions.

REFERENCES:

• Headquarters Marine Corps Intelligence Plans Division Wargame Report”, Persistent Warrior-Wargame Report August 2015. http://www.mcwl.marines.mil/Portals/34/Documents/EW13%20Final%20Report_FINAL.pdf
• Lin, John, “Applications of ZigBee Technology”, NIST, October 7, 2005; http://gsi.nist.gov/global/docs/mra/2005_Lin_ZigBee.pdf
• Kaushik, B. Nance, Don, and Ahuja, K “A Review of the Role of Acoustic Sensors in the Modern Battlefield” 11th AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference (26th AIAA Aeroacoustics Conference) 3 - 25 May 2005, Monterey, California. https://ccse.lbl.gov/people/kaushik/papers/AIAA_Monterey.pdf

KEYWORDS: Terrestrial Sensors; Multimodal Sensors; ruggedized; Controller/Alarm Function; Seismic/Acoustic; Sensor String

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between April 22, 2016 and May 22, 2016 you may talk directly with the Topic Authors (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting May 23, 2016 , when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

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