Remote Sensing of CWAs Using Color Changing Sensor Tags and RFID Detector

Rapid identification of these warfare modes, particularly Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs), is vital to protecting U.S. armed forces personnel and their assets. Most quantitative and accurate methods for CWA identification utilize bulky and expensive equipment that require specific technical expertise for data collection and analysis. A major limitation to using existing detection equipment is that they must be provided with electrical power, which limits the degree of size reduction and portability that may be achieved and imposes a substantial logistics penalty. There is a need to develop classes of materials that can respond to a stimulus without any active power sources attached or integrated into the device. Lynntech has developed smart materials that experience significant color changes upon exposure to external stimulus, without the need for a reagent or power source. During this Phase II, new innovative concept will be develop to enhance this capability. Lynntech will develop multiple small scale sensor tags that can specifically detect multiple classes of CWAs. These sensing tags will have the ability to be remotely interrogated to ascertain status of the sensing element, and provide electronic information to differentiate the condition state of each sensor in situations where multiple sensors are implemented.