Active/Passive Metal Detector

Active/Passive Metal Detector Introduction: DTRA is soliciting white papers to integrate selectable passive and non-passive metal detection technology into a single unit or instrument that is currently made or one that can be easily constructed. The instrument should be light weight (less than 2.5 lbs), one-man portable (able to condense down and store in a 5.56 magazine type pocket on equipment) and able to detect very small amounts of ferrous and non-ferrous materials. The sensitivity of the instrument should be enough to allow it to detect individual objects such as solid state electronic components and assembled circuit boards from single or multiple sources such as packages, bags, walls, floors, and different soil types with a minimum of 2-3 inch standoff. Detection and response should be quick and precise allowing the operator to scan the object quickly. Background: DTRA's mission is to safeguard America and its allies from weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high explosives CBRNE) by reducing the present threat and preparing for the future threat. Services: The proposal should include discussions using only proven active and passive detector technologies such as Electro-Magnetic Induction (EMI); Magnetometers; Gradiometers; and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Unproven, experimental, or theoretical search technologies will not be considered. The discussion should include only the technologies that would be required to search, detect and locate ferrous and non-ferrous metallic materials. The instrument should be a design that is capable of penetrating soft materials (i.e. hay stacks, between flour/rice bags) smoothly, rugged enough to use as a probe through loosely packed soils or materials, and capable of sweeping uneven or grown over terrain. Instrumentation and user interface controls should be located in the same location as the handle or grip. The instrument may be used while standing fully upright, kneeling, low crawling or in a physical security mode to search for metal objects. The instrument should be capable of varying lengths from 48 inches (fully extended) to 8 inches (collapsed). The instrument must be capable of full operation while fully extended or collapsed or at any point in between. The total dimensions collapsed cannot exceed 8 inches long x 3 inches wide x 2 inches deep. The handle should conform to the instrument and should not extend or protrude off of the instrument when collapsed. The instrument should be ruggedized, capable of operating in all weather and all terrains. The controls should be simple on/off selectable, thumb wheel type or push button, easily used with one hand and configured to respond to only positive intended commands. The instrument should have a selectable on/off intensity switch for controlling a visual indicator as well as controlling the sensitivity settings for the passive and active detectors. The visual indicator should consist of intensity indicator lights and should be Infra-red selectable. A selectable on/off audible indicator should be included and an output must be available for a user headset. Controls should also allow the operator to select between active and passive search modes or a combination of the two modes. The instrument should be capable of one-handed operation. Overall weight should be 1.5 - 2.5 lbs; counterbalanced or with wrist or forearm support to facilitate use when fully extended. The design must use a commercial off the shelf power supply such as a 3 volt lithium battery. The power supply must be integrated into the instrument. The instrument should be capable of continuous operation for 4 hours between 30-90 degrees F. Overall use is for the instrument to function much like a standard metal detector but incorporating technologies in order to detect all metals, not necessarily associated with ordnance or landmines and to provide a smaller, lighter, more flexible instrument that will be capable in a diverse range of operating environments. The total time of the effort must be completed in 18 months or less.