STAND-OFF DETECTION OF HYBRID THREATS CONTAINING EXPLOSIVES (STYX) (DIT.AD001.156)

Thematic area

Engineering, ICT and technologies for energy and transportation

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute for electromagnetic sensing of the environment (IREA)

Project manager

ILARIA CATAPANO
Phone number: 0817620656
Email: catapano.i@irea.cnr.it

Abstract

Identification of new sensors for fast stand-off detection of existing and new types of explosives embedded in IEDs and other explosive threats, to enhance Force Protection and Critical Infrastructures Protection in Hybrid warfare scenarios. Such sensors should be able not only to detect the explosive but also to identify it, in order to minimize false positive alarms. Stand-off sensors for both trace and bulk explosives will be considered. Such sensors should be benign to human beings. The key point of STYX project is to look at stand-off sensors that can detect and identify, on site, existing and new types of explosives within a hybrid threat. This means that sensors need to be chemically specific (i.e. by measuring a spectral property of the explosive) which will ensure higher detection probability and less false positive alarms. The most promising technologies that will be further investigated and developed during the project are:
o Novel stand-off Raman trace detection;
o NQR bulk detection by using miniaturized atomic magnetometers;
o Radar data processing;
o SWIR/SORS detection;
o Mid-infrared (MIRS) spectroscopy;
o THz imaging and spectroscopy.

Goals

A key goal of the project will be to define and perform realistic testing and evaluation of state-of-the-art and emerging detection techniques, addressing the operational and performance requirements derived from the identified hybrid warfare scenarios.

The project will involve the identification and development of novel capabilities for threat identification and will thus support threat neutralization. The researched technologies will have the potential to become advanced tools for military and law enforcement EOD operations in hybrid warfare situations. Moreover, the project aims to close the capability gap on chemically specific bulk detection.

Start date of activity

10/12/2021

Keywords

Radar data processing, THz imaging and spectroscopy, Mid-infrared (MIRS) spectroscopy

Last update: 04/08/2025