EPE enhances chemical and explosive detection prototype
30 November 2022
EPE showcased the prototype, having received a Phase 3 Defence Innovation Hub contract to enhance a stand-off chemical and explosive detection capability for maritime boarding parties.
The contract saw the company advance the prototype delivered under Phase 2, including miniaturising the handheld stand-off Raman detection unit and integrating the capability onto uncrewed platforms.
The project seeks to remove operators from threats.
As part of a scenario-based demonstration, the capability was showcased to Defence. The company demonstrated the handheld detector’s capability and the improved stand-off ranges when integrated onto uncrewed platforms.
Threats could thus be identified from 100 metres away.
“The miniaturisation of this capability, and the development of a modularised approach to integrating it onto uncrewed systems opens up a variety of possibilities for the deployment and operation of other sensors, which can all successfully contribute to removing humans from threat environments, which is our underlying goal,” Robbie Wild, innovation manager at EPE, said.
It is hoped that the company will continue improving the stand-off range and trace detection capabilities of the system.
Source: Defence Connect