Akamai Physics Inc., a New Mexico based company will develop a lightweight, compact sensor to enable the U.S. government to monitor ships inbound to United States ports in an attempt to detect traces of chemical substances related to Weapons of Mass destruction (WMD).
The sensor, known as Bright Onyx, will use an active multi-spectral chemical sensor, operating in the 5-um region. It will operate on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and will enable detection of substances at a sensitivity 10ppm*m from the UAV cruising altitude and speed. The Bright Onyx development is expected to be completed by June 2008. the program is managed by the U.S. Air Force under a $10 million contract.
