Detection of Bulk Explosives using the GPR only portion of the HSTAMIDS system

摘要

The legacy AN/PSS-14 (Anny-Navy Portable Special Search-14) Handheld Mine Detecting Set (also called HSTAMIDS for Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System) has proven itself over the last 7 years as the state-of-the-art in land mine detection, both for the US Army and for Humanitarian Demining groups. Its dual GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) and MD (Metal Detection) sensor has provided receiver operating characteristic curves (probability of detection or Pd versus false alarm rate or FAR) that routinely set the mark for such devices. Since its inception and type-classification in 2003 as the US (United States) Army standard, the desire for use of the AN/PSS-14 against alternate threats - such as bulk explosives - has recently become paramount. To this end, L-3 CyTerra has developed and tested bulk explosive detection and discrimination algorithms using only the Stepped Frequency Continuous Wave (SFCW) Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) portion of the system, versus the fused version that is used to optimally detect land mines. Performance of the new bulk explosive algorithm against representative zero-metal bulk explosive target and clutter emplacements is depicted, with the utility to the operator also described.