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Researchers from the U.S. Army, along with university scientists, are implementing efforts to develop a hyperspectral/broadband and/or ultraviolet (UV) sensing technology for target discrimination. The Army’s primary goal is to advance the development of fast reliable broadband optics techniques that can quickly identify and ascertain an indication of the geometric shape/compositional structure of various materials encountered on the battlefield. Samples of a variety of cement-based, metal, and composite materials are assembled and investigated to determine each sample’s spectra optical reflectance and absorption properties after being exposed to varying optical wavelengths. The optical wavelengths are generated from deuterium, halogen, and white light sources. The light intensity ratios are used to create data points which allowed for the identification of unique characteristics of each sample material. Broadband visible and near infrared (NIR) sources (deuterium and halogen) are reflected off the samples and the spectrometric reflections were captured. Several light intensity ratios are used and compared to distinguish the samples and error bars are created. While the initial results indicated that the halogen source may be used to distinguish most of the sample materials (and perhaps stand-alone versions of the other wavelength sources may not be sufficient), combinations of wavelengths/laser diodes with broadband light sources were used to determine if the identification/characteristics of each sample could be achieved. Results outlined in this paper include the current progress made toward the development of broadband optics sensing methodologies and instrumentation for identifying and discriminating the geometric configurations/formations of various battlefield materials.
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