The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has developed a prototype metal detection survey system that will increase the search speed of conventional technology while maintaining high sensitivity. Higher search speeds will reduce the time to clear roads of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IED) and to locate unexploded ordnance (UXO) at Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) sites, thus reducing remediation costs. The new survey sensor system is called the moving belt metal detector (MBMD) and operates by both increasing sensor speed over the ground while maintaining adequate sensor dwell time over the target for good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reducing motion-induced sensor noise. The MBMD uses an array of metal detection sensors mounted on a flexible belt similar to a tank track. The belt motion is synchronized with the forward survey speed so individual sensor elements remain stationary relative to the ground. A single pulsed transmitter coil is configured to provide a uniform magnetic field along the length of the receivers in ground contact. Individual time-domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) receivers are designed to sense a single time-gate measurement of the total metal content. Each sensor module consists of a receiver coil, amplifier, digitizing electronics and a low power UHF wireless transmitter. This paper presents the survey system design concepts and metal detection data from various targets at several survey speeds. Although the laboratory prototype is designed to demonstrate metal detection survey speeds up to 10 m/s, higher speeds are achievable with a larger sensor array. In addition, the concept can be adapted to work with other sensor technologies not previously considered for moving platforms.
This paper describes the Multi-mode Electromagnetic Target Discriminator (METD) sensor and presents preliminary results from recent field experiments. The METD sensor was developed for the US Army RDECOM NVESD by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The METD, based on the technology of the previously developed Electromagnetic Target Discriminator (ETD), is a spatial scanning electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor that uses both the time-domain (TD) and the frequency-domain (FD) for target detection and classification. Data is collected with a custom data acquisition system and wirelessly transmitted to a base computer. We show that the METD has a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the ability to detect voids created by plastic anti-tank (AT) mines, and is practical for near real-time data processing.
Conventional metal detectors require people to walk through a door-like opening that houses the detection system. Typically, each person must be scanned individually. This creates a “choke point,” and long lines form at the screening point. This paper describes a metal detection sensor system that could screen large crowds of people more efficiently. The new system is called the Wide-Area Metal Detection (WAMD) sensor system. This sensor system is composed of a spatially distributed metal detector and a video surveillance system. The sensor system is designed to continually screen an area and reduce the need for each person to be examined separately.
This paper describes a prototype three-dimensional electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor system that has the potential to measure directly the multiple components of buried metal targets' magnetic polarizability tensor without the need to invert spatial data from single-axis EMI sensors. This novel sensor is called a three-dimensional steerable magnetic field (3DSMF) sensor system. The 3DSMF sensor is a high-time resolution, wide-bandwidth time-domain EMI system combined with a 3-axis magnetic field generator (3AMFG) and magnetic field receivers. The 3AMFG differs from previous 3-axis magnetic field generators in a number of ways: the projected magnetic field is relatively uniform in space and is steerable. These two features offer the potential to greatly improve target classification. This paper discusses the 3DSMF sensor system design philosophy and modeling results.
Current state-of-the-art electromagnetic induction (EMI) metal detector research systems have shown the potential to detect low metal content buried targets as well as discriminate the type of target as a mine or clutter. However, further research is needed to investigate metal target discrimination potential for closely spaced metal targets. A series of experiments designed to investigate the spatial and time decay responses of multiple metal targets were conducted using a spatial scanning, time-domain EMI metal detector. Time decay signatures were taken of two calibration targets placed over varying distances with the objective of analyzing target identification and spatial resolution. This paper presents results of these experiments.
This paper describes a spatial scanning time-domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor and presents results from recent field experiments with buried metal and low-metal content (LMC) anti-personnel (AP) and anti-tank (AT) plastic-cased land mines. The EMI sensor is an modified version of the Electromagnetic Target Discriminator (ETD) sensor developed for the US Army CECOM/NVSED by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The spatial scanning ETD sensor has demonstrated the ability to measure metal target decay times starting approximately 6 ms after the transmitter current is turned off and with metal target decay time constants as short as 1 ms. The sensor antenna sweeps 80 cm over a target area and makes time-decay measurements at 14.5 mm intervals. In addition to metal target signatures, the paper describes coincident void and metal signatures from LMC land mines. The detection of coincident void and metal signatures is shown to be an important classification technique for LMC land mines.
This paper presents wide bandwidth, time decay signatures from recent unexploded ordnance (UXO) field experiment at a US Government UXO test site. While current technologies have shown the ability to detect buried metal objects, they tend to fail in discriminating the UXOs from metal objects that pose no risk. Metal target time decay measurements have been shown to be an excellent method for target classification and identification. The present paper addresses the research community's need for accurate, wide-bandwidth UXO target signatures. Metal target signatures for a number of important UXO targets are presented in the paper for both vertical and horizontal magnetic field excitation. Target time decay signatures from about 30 microseconds to 8 milliseconds are presented. Target signatures are also characterized using a non-linear parameterization scheme in an effort to develop a compact target signature library.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) has developed a prototype backpack-portable robot system for mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection and identification. The robot system is compact, lightweight and is estimated to be inexpensive to construct. The robot has been designed with an inexpensive, highly accurate, wide bandwidth time-domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor for the detection and identification of metal components in mines and UXO. The robot can be configured for autonomous or person-in-the-loop control. The robot system can be configured with additional light-weight and low-cost mine and UXO sensors such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) and chemical explosive detectors.
This paper presents wide bandwidth, time decay responses from low metal content (LMC) mines, LMC mine simulates, and ground voids. Measurements were collected both in the laboratory and in the field. The target time decay responses were measured with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory developed Electromagnetic Target Discriminator (ETD) sensor developed for the US Army CECOM/NVSED. The ETD sensor has demonstrated the ability to measure metal target decay times starting approximately 3 to 5)mus after the transmitter current is turned off and metal target decay time constants as short as 1.4)mus.
This report presents a summary of signal strength testing conducted with the metal detector (MD) subsystem of the Mine H/K (hunter/killer) vehicular mine detection system. An overview of the operational characteristics of the MD subsystem, the VMV16, is provided. Tests are described that assess the variation in sensitivity across the MD coil array. Absolute sensitivity measurements of the MD array are also presented. Results presented show that the array has sufficient sensitivity to detect low metal (LM) mines provided the mines are not located further than 3.5 inches from the plane of array. Laboratory experiments indicate that saturation and a limited temporal sampling window severely restrict any opportunity for discrimination based on eddy current decay predictions/comparisions.
The technical issues of a standoff electro-optic tripwire detector are discussed. Significant advances in short-wave infrared (SWIR) laser diodes and InGaAs detector technologies have made it possible for the demonstration of a passive and active eyesafe (1.5 micron) laser illuminated tripwire (ELIT) detector. The demonstrated system utilizes COTS laser diodes and cameras. The Hough Transform was used for the detection of tripwires in images. System trade-offs are discussed and images are shown.
This paper describes a prototype electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor system designed specifically to measure the horizontal component of a metal target's eddy current time decay signature. Instead of creating a vertical magnetic field from a horizontal loop transmitter configuration used by most EMI metal detectors, the prototype transmitter geometry has been designed especially for creating a horizontal magneti field (HMF). One of the potential advantages of the HMF sensor is the relatively uniform magnetic field that is created over a large volume. A second potential advantage is that, compared to a conventional loop antenna, the magnetic field intensity falls off slowly with distance from the plane of the sensor. These two advantages potentially make the HMF sensor well suited for detection and classification of metal targets buried deeply in the ground (e.b., unexploded ordnance, UXO) or from a vehicle-mounted mine detector sensor. Preliminary modeling of the antenna and laboratory data from a time-domain version of the HMF sensor are presented.
A magnetic sensor system has been developed to measure the 3-D location and orientation of a rigid body relative to an array of magnetic dipole transmitters. A generalized solution to the measurement problem has been formulated, allowing the transmitter and receiver parameters (position, orientation, number, etc.) to be optimized for various applications. Additionally, the method of images has been used to mitigate the impact of metallic materials in close proximity to the sensor. The resulting system allows precise tracking of high-speed motion in confined metal environments. The sensor system was recently configured and tested as an abdomen displacement sensor for an automobile crash-test dummy. The test results indicate a positional accuracy of approximately 1 mm rms during 20 m/s motions. The dynamic test results also confirmed earlier covariance model predictions, which were used to optimize the sensor geometry. A covariance analysis was performed to evaluate the applicability of this magnetic position system for tracking a pilot's head motion inside an aircraft cockpit. Realistic design parameters indicate that a robust tracking system, consisting of lightweight pickup coils mounted on a pilot's helmet, and an array of transmitter coils distributed throughout a cockpit, is feasible. Recent test and covariance results are presented.
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