Mobile Chemical Agent Detector (MCAD)

MCAD is a standoff sensor that can detect, identify, map and report chemical cloud threats at distances as great as 5 kilometers. The instrument is designed to detect chemical weapon vapors from stationary or mobile military platforms. The MCAD can also detect toxic industrial chemicals.  Applications for these sensors range from  use by first responders to soldiers on the battlefield, as well as monitoring of critical industrial sites.

The instrument is the culmination of over 15 years of research and development. This has been a team effort with Northrop Grumman marketing the unit, Block Engineering (www.blockeng.com) building the core instrument, and MESH providing all software, testing, manufacturing and integration.

From 1987 to 1996, MESH worked with the US Army designing algorithms for on-the-move standoff detection of chemical clouds using passive FTIR instruments. MESH developed the algorithm, the electronics, and the calibration device for the Mobile Chemical Agent Detector (MCAD) from 1997 to 2003. MESH used both software and hardware design skills in developing the sensor. These skills include: signal processing algorithm development, pattern recognition algorithm development, radiometric/quantitative FTIR data processing, mathematical modeling of the detection problem, circuit board design, mechanical/thermal design, and system integration.

MCAD Development and Milestones

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