TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Materials/Processes, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Marine Corps Intel, TRSS, ACAT IV

OBJECTIVE: Develop a more effective and informative method of change detection in order to help solve the asymmetric attack problem. This will be accomplished through the development of a low cost degradable taggant that can be dispersed over a wide area. Once dispersed, the taggant will serve as a witness to activity in the area and can be used to queue other sensors for forensics.

DESCRIPTION: The Degradable taggant project will provide a robust passive tagging system that will enable near-real time change detection along a given route. As contrasted to image recognition software, this technique only records the location and intensity of a signal. In addition, the passive tags will enable the collection of movement data by examining tracks in the area of interest. Lastly, marking an area with passive tags will also enable the identification of entities that were once in the area of interest. The simplicity of this system, as compared to other image recognition/change detection approaches, means that it can be developed into a working product ready for field user evaluation in a relatively short amount of time and expense.

The degradable taggant will give the warfighter a real-time change detection tool for identifying objects of interest. The key technology challenges to implementing this strategy is to create taggants that degrade over time so that the area of interest does not become "polluted" with tags and the ability to register sensor data (intensity images).

While taggants already exist, the purpose of this effort is to find out if it is possible to create a taggant that is degradable meaning its photoluminescence drops off as a function of time. New taggants, whose intensity could be reduced by 50% in a two week time period, are desired. (If it turns out that it is not possible to create degradable taggants then non-degradable taggants can be used.)

Outside the scope of this effort is the development of a payload that can take the before and after pictures and detect changes.

Operational Concept:
Delivery – indiscriminant aerial dispersion over an area of interest

Baseline – initial data collection of relative photoluminescence intensities

Real Time – scan the region ahead of transport, either via a UAV or with a vehicle mounted sensor, and compare intensity map with the baseline to see if any changes can be found. (ground that has been turned, any unexpected traffic patterns appear, etc.)

Re-zero – store intensity scan for future use (re-base lining when appropriate)

Key functions of the Single State Taggant include the following:
1. Real-Time change detection based on Taggant intensity image.
2. Possible intelligence data gathering of routes/paths of traffic through AOI.
3. Degradable taggants allow for a time identification component to the tagging issue.

PHASE I: Conduct research to evaluate the viability of a degradable Taggant. Conduct research to evaluate the limitations of this change detection approach that uses intensity mapping. (Are paths visible, etc…) Develop a system design and make recommendations on the large scale production of the Taggant. Describe hardware and software requirements. Submit a report covering the approach, design and results.

PHASE II: Provide a working prototype of a degradable Taggant and use COTS sensors to test applications and limitations of the Single State Taggant approach. Coordinate a demonstration of the Single State Taggant system. Deliver a final report documenting the performance and capability.

PHASE III: Provide a Single State Taggant System to many DoD and contractor test facilities for field evaluations.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Degradable, low cost passive tags, have application to homeland security (border security) and private security applications. The developed tags would enable a security official to monitor borders and areas of responsibility at a much lower cost. Sensor planning could effectively be based on information obtained from taggant track observations.

REFERENCES:
1. http://www.nap.edu/nap-cgi/skimit.cgi?isbn=0309092450&chap=3-6

2. http://www.cs.colorado.edu/

mishras/research/papers/siumi05.pdf (same application, different approach)

KEYWORDS: Photoluminescence, Change Detection, Infrared, Optical, Real-time, Optical, TTL, Taggant

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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