COMMONSENSE

"Development of a Common Sensor Platform for the Detection of IED ""Bomb Factories"""

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The detection of IED manufacturing facilities is crucial for the security of citizens, as well as infrastructures and utilities. Current sensing methods suffer from susceptibility to false positive results due to environmental contaminants, or false negative results to interfering compounds. The need exists for a single distributed network, with a common interface and communications protocol, to manage and communicate with a variety of different sensor technologies, and use the combined sensor data to produce clear and unequivocal results with low false positive/negative readings.

The goal of the CommonSense project is to create and demonstrate this sensor network, through the simultaneous and parallel development of novel materials, portable sensors and a wireless communications network, which uses chemometric data processing algorithms to “learn” to recognise trace amounts of explosives, and differentiate them from interferents. The partners will produce a series of novel organic, polymeric and nanocrystalline materials with tuned optoelectronic properties and surface affinities to be used as the active sensor elements. These elements will be incorporated into devices based on optical, electrical, and other readout mechanisms, for detection of airborne and waterborne analytes.

The CommonSense project will also incorporate radiation detectors to detect this growing security threat of “dirty bombs”, where sub-critical amounts of radioactive materials, obtained from medical waste or other sources, are incorporated into IEDs. The key point in the use of such a variety of sensor technologies is that no one substance can act as an interferent to all of the sensors, thus reducing false positives and negatives. Eliminating the remaining false readings will be achieved through use of the chemometric algorithms in order to teach itself to recognise the “fingerprint” sensor response to different explosives types and ignore interfering compounds.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU project developed chemical and radiation sensors, for deployment throughout cities, which detect the components of bombs. The sensors are connected wirelessly, and novel processing algorithms allow the system to learn.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

With a growing number of threats to the security of European citizens, authorities need the ability to detect a greater variety of dangerous devices. One suggestion is city-wide deployment of a network of wireless sensors that detect the signature traces of bombs.

Current sensors are inadequate and unreliable. Hence, the EU-funded project 'Development of a common sensor platform for the detection of IED "bomb factories"' (http://www.fp7projectcommonsense.eu (COMMONSENSE)) planned improvements. The eight-member consortium worked to develop the necessary network, using novel sensor materials, communication technologies and data-processing algorithms. The network was designed to enable detection of airborne and waterborne chemical signatures of bomb production, and of chemicals potentially able to mask the targets. The system also includes radiation detectors, for location of 'dirty bombs'. The project operated for three years to the end of 2013.

COMMONSENSE developed two sensitive sensor types. The nanoelectrochemical sensors detect powerful nitrous explosives, while fluorescence-based optical 'turn-off' sensors detect gas residues of TNT. A radiation sensor was produced that achieved high sensitivity and a low-error rate. In addition, the consortium developed various modules for an integrated housing for the sensors.

The components were united in a wireless communication network based on several international standards. The application was successfully tested and demonstrated. The team also developed chemometric processing algorithms that 'learn' to better resolve target chemicals while ignoring others.

Project activities included the construction of special facilities for sensor validation and a testing site.

The COMMONSENSE project developed sensor technologies that will autonomously detect various bomb components. The upshot is increased safety for citizens, without invasive surveillance, and opportunities for European business.