U.S. forces use electronic microsystems on the battlefield to gather critical data for situational awareness, monitoring the area without putting the warfighter in danger.
Since the systems are dispersed throughout wide areas, it is difficult to retrieve every device, leaving them susceptible to enemy recovery and use which could result in compromise of the sensor, and the communications network.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has contracted BAE Systems to develop transient electronic microsystems as part of the VAPR program.
BAE Systems’ pH–sensitive Hydrogel with Alkaline Silicon Etching (pHASE) transient sensor will be a self-powered wireless sensor deployed in a mesh network to monitor its surroundings.
BAE Systems will leverage expertise in RF system-on-a-chip design, CMOS design and fabrication, and advanced packaging to develop the pHASE transient sensor.
- RF power scavenging capabilities would enable longer mission times without recharging.
- Two-way RF communication seeks frequent data exchange.
- Onboard power storage is designed to be capable of communicating 10 meters, the average width of a city street.
- Onboard light, temperature and vibration sensors seek to monitor environmental conditions.
- Designed to be capable of being triggered autonomously by local environmental conditions.