SAfE-AWARE: Safety Algorithms for Enhanced Assessment of Workplace Activities, Risks, and Environment

Physical Sciences Inc. proposes to develop a novel low-cost wearable sensor to detect exposure to high-power microwave (HPM) weapons. The sensor will be lightweight, small, and require minimal maintenance to facilitate widespread distribution, allowing definitive identification of invisible HPM weapon usage and support treatment decisions by medical personnel. HPM attack is suspected in the symptoms experienced by U.S. personnel at diplomatic embassies in Cuba and China in 2016 & 2017, but could not be confirmed due to the absence of sensing equipment. Sensor prototypes will be designed and fabricated during Phase I, and will undergo preliminary testing in high field strength test facilities. The design will be refined and extensively tested during the Phase II effort. The proposed Phase I program includes specific tasks to 1) design a small ultra-wideband collection antenna, 2) develop a high-power tolerant, self-powered measurement circuit, 3) select and test an electromagnetic interference-tolerant indicator element, and 4) combine circuit and indicator in into a heavily-shielded case and test the full prototype in a HPM environment. The alarm thresholds for the proposed sensor as well as other design considerations will be refined based on discussions with the DoD sponsor.