Optimal Sensor Management for Next-Generation EMI Systems

Authors: Lawrence Carin; Nilanjan Dasgupta; Hui Li; SIGNAL INNOVATIONS GROUP INC DURHAM NC

Abstract:

This document serves as the final report on the project titled Optimal Sensor Management for Next-Generation EMI Systems (SERDP Project MM-1591). This project is a collaboration between SIG, Dr. T. C. Bell of AETC, and Dr. Herb Nelson of NRL. This research is directed toward developing the adaptive sensor-management architecture needed for next-generation electromagnetic induction (EMI) systems. Specifically, SERDP and ESTCP are currently funding multi-coil EMI systems that provide significant capability and diversity with respect to the shape of the incident magnetic field, as well as in how the induced magnetic fields are measured (e.g., multi-field-component measurements). Moreover, systems can operate in the frequency and/or time domain, with prescribed data sampling rates. The large number of sensor parameters (number of transmit/receive coils, as well as the time/frequency sample rate) often necessitate hardware design tradeoffs, with the goal of achieving practical sensing costs (e.g., sensing time). By making these sensor-design tradeoffs in hardware, one necessarily loses functionality, limiting the utility of the system (e.g., the system may have to be tailored in hardware to particular classes of UXO, and UXO depths). We are therefore developing here an adaptive EMI-sensing framework, for next-generation EMI systems; this framework adaptively tailors the use of sensor assets to the target under test. Sensor functionality is preserved by making fewer compromises in hardware, with practical sensing costs achieved through optimal and selective use of sensor assets. The algorithm also adaptively determines when to terminate sensing, defined when the data measured thus far are sufficient for classification within user-defined risk constraints. This research is highly relevant for the full exploitation of current SERDP/ESTCP investments in next-generation EMI systems, and therefore there are many transition opportunities.

Limitations:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE