Liquid Crystal-based Sensors for Detection of Airborne Toxic Chemicals for Integration with Unmanned Robotic Systems

In Phase I we successfully reached all goals and milestones in developing liquid crystal sensors that detected 100 ppb of each of four target gases (DMMP, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide and ammonia) within 60 seconds. In Phase II, we propose to expand this detection capability to a total of seven gases, adding volatile organic compounds, chlorine and half-mustard to the set. We then propose to develop three types of sensors for three gases (threshold, semi-quantitative and quantitative), develop a subsystem for integration of threshold sensors into unmanned vehicles, and test one of the sensors on the ARA Pointman robot. Our first target product for Phase II is a threshold sensor for hydrogen sulfide suitable for integration with unmanned ground vehicles.