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AF06-036




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Basic Information:

Title:	Remote Personnel Assessment
Program:	SBIR
Technology Area:	Biomedical , Human Systems
Open Date:	12/13/2005
Close Date:	1/13/2006

Description:

Recent research has supported the belief that active combatants will in general have heart, respiratory and galvanic skin responses that are outside the norm with respect to rate and rate variability. Therefore being able to perform real time physiological monitoring from a distance using a microwave/laser based system may provide for early detection and identification of terrorists, suicide bombers, and other personnel posing a threat. Such a device would also be useful for detection of subterfuge or deception during prisoner interrogation, and remote detection and targeting of life signs through obstructions and severe urban clutter.

Objective:

The objective of this research effort is to develop microwave/laser based technology to measure heartbeat, respiration and galvanic skin response in moving and non-cooperative subjects. It will also investigate methods to extend the standoff distance of the microwave/laser system to 35m. Furthermore, it will explore the possibility of using this system to detect and characterize personnel in severe urban clutter or in buildings (through walls) with a probability of detection threshold goal of 95%, with a 2% false positive rate.

Phase I:

Researchers will perform computational investigation/analysis of laser and RF based technologies for a single system to monitor/interrogate heart rate, respiration and galvanic skin response (GSR) in human subjects in a lab setting. The effort will emphasize small sized (easily man portable) sensors with low power requirements. This effort will trade laser against radiofrequency capabilities and define preferred system configuration. Technical challenges in this phase are expected to include: integration of laser/RF technologies, signal to noise optimization and statistical interpretation. Preliminary designs will be provided.

Phase II:

Researchers will investigate methods to extend the range of the system to 35 m with a probability of detection threshold goal of 95% and false positive rate of 2%. Researchers will also investigate methods to detect and characterize personnel in severe urban clutter and through external and interior building walls. During this phase the researchers will provide a detailed prototype design and will complete fabrication and testing of a prototype. Technical challenges in this phase are expected to include process optimization.

Phase III:

DUAL USE APPLICATIONS This device would be useful for military applications such as (1) Counter-terrorism: Remote/non-intrusive monitoring of the physisiological functions of adversaries that may predict hostile behavior and give advance warning of hostile acts. (2) Force protection: Remote/non-intrusive detection of human life forms in concealed/battle damaged areas. (3) Intelligence: Remote/concealed “lie detector” analysis of individuals. The device would also have multiple commercial applications such as emergency patient monitoring, prisoner suicide prevention, disaster recovery operations, medical image processing, airport surveillance, etc.

References:

1} Storm, Hanne, “Development of emotional sweating in preterms measured by skin conductance changes”, Department of Paediatric Research and Section on Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, the National Hospital, 0027 Oslo, Norway, 29 January 2001. {2} Matthews, Gregory, et. al., “A Non-Contact Vital Signs Monitor”, Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, 28 (1&2); 173-178 (2000)

SBIR Keywords

Physiological Monitoring, Behavioral Monitoring, Physiological Sensors, Remote Detection, Doppler Shift.

TechMatch Keyword(s):

Human Systems

Bioengineering

Biomedical technology

Medical Science, Medicine, and Biology

Sensors

Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, Anti-Terrorism

DISCLAIMER:

The Solicitations listed on this site are copies from the various SBIR agency solicitations and are not necessarily the latest and most up-to-date. For this reason, you should use the agency link listed below which will take you directly to the appropriate agency server where you can read the official version of this solicitation and download the appropriate forms and rules. The Official Website can be found at: http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/solicitations/index.htm