A new passive helicopter detector

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · J. Nucl. Mater. Manage.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5275021

Elliott, G R

Sandia has developed a new helicopter detector. The device relies on the correlation between the acoustic wave from the helicopter and the resulting coupled seismic wave. A significant feature of this approach is that the detector is completely passive; there is no radio frequency radiation. Intended for deployment as a perimeter sensor around a site, the unit offers a low nuisance/false alarm rate and a high probability of detection for a wide range of helicopters. Reliable detection occurs when the target is at high altitude and also very near the earth's surface. Detection ranges start at one kilometre for the small, four-place, civilian helicopter and approach five kilometres for heavier, military types. The system has two parts: a transducer package containing a microphone and a geophone and a digital processor. Development is underway for a model which will be AC powered and well suited to permanent facilities. A prototype unit using a lightweight, battery powered processor is being constructed for rapid-deployment applications.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Systems Engineering Div. 5238, Albuquerque, NM 87185
• OSTI ID: 5275021
• Report Number(s): CONF-850765-
• Journal Information: J. Nucl. Mater. Manage.; (United States), Vol. 14:3; Conference: 26. annual meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Albuquerque, NM, USA, 21 Jul 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
ACOUSTIC MONITORING
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
TRANSDUCERS
HELICOPTERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
DESIGN
MONITORS
ALTITUDE
DISTANCE
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICAL PROTECTION DEVICES
RELIABILITY
SAFETY
SANDIA LABORATORIES
SEISMIC WAVES
SOUND WAVES
AIRCRAFT
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
440300* - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)