Human Occupancy Detection System

To address the HSARPA need to detect humans hiding in cargo shipping containers, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Human Occupancy Detection (HOD) system. The HOD will be based on POC's sensor fusion and neural networks pattern recognition technology, combined with a novel chemical gas sensor array. The HOD detects human presence by detecting and identifying major human respiratory and flatus gases in a confined cargo shipping container. The HOD is packed in a porous metal box (less than 2 in. x 2 in. x 1 in.) and covertly installed inside the cargo container. It can be operated either standalone or integrated into the Advanced Cargo Security Device. Several HODs can be installed at different container locations to increase detection accuracy. The HOD can operate on a 1.5 V AAA battery (2000 mAh) for more than 1400 continuous hours, and stay operational under the various conditions in which shipping containers operate. It costs less than $150 with integrated COTS components. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of HOD by testing it in simulated cargo conditions. In Phase II POC plans to fabricate a preproduction prototype HOD and test it in a real intermodal shipping cargo container evnvironment.