Operational Field Test & Evaluation

of the
PSI Seismic Sensor
15 December 2014
A. Rex Rivolo, Chief Technology Officer
Tel: +1-703-371-9166
rex.rivolo@ftaerospace.com

Flight Test Aerospace, Inc.

1224 Flight Line, Hangar 68
Mojave, CA 93501
Tel: +1661-824-5530
www.ftaerospace.com
Slide 1

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Background
2011: The Directorate for Science and Technology of the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS S&T), in support of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP), tested a variety of Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS)
technologies to assess their potential for improving surveillance on the
southern and northern borders. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lincoln Laboratory (MIT-LL) directed the testing and performed the results
analysis.
DHS rated the Radiobarrier RS-U sensor as best performing with a detection range
of 46 meters for a walking person and 55 meters for a pick-up truck at 10 MPH

2011: FTA purchased $200,000 in Radiobarrier components for evaluation

and possible marketing as part of FTA Security Solutions; established business
relation with Radiobarrier
Extensively tested RS-U sensor in variety of soils and backgrounds confirmed the
DHS results

2012: FTA terminated relationship with Radiobarrier due to limited market

opportunities and strong competition from US manufacturers

2013: FTA approached Global Innovations, Inc. (GII) to jointly evaluate the
Precision Sensors & Instruments Ltd. (PSI) sensor potential
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PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Background
FTA has been looking at the PSI sensor since late 2013
Extraordinary claims made by GII, little evidence to support claims
Field test conducted by GII demonstrating PSIs prototype sensors at
Chantilly VA in Feb 2014 were inconclusive due to lack of timing
synchronization of data files with ground truth and rudimentary detection
algorithms,
Field tests conducted 29-30 Oct 2014 in the Mojave Desert, CA under FTA
control provided good, unambiguous data
Tests conducted at Mojave included:
Fixed magnitude impulse (drop) tests: 4.5 kg dropped from 1 meter height (44.5
Joules)
Nominal Person Walking: 200 lb person walking normally (not attempting to
conceal presence)

Vehicles slow drive-by on unprepared surface: (Grand Caravan & Range Rover)

Independent data analyses by FTA presented herewith

Additional data analysis by PSI and marketing analysis by GII
Slide 3

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Radiobarriers RS-U Seismic Sensor

PURPOSE:
detection of a foot-borne intruder and/or vehicle by
seismic noise caused on the ground.
Installed underground at a depth of 30 to 50 cm for
concealment.
Operates as:
1. Seismic detection device
2. Trip-wire detection device
3. External device activation unit
4. Radio Network Repeater.
Weight: 0.67 kg
Dimensions: 120 mm Dia x 64 mm.
Operating temperature range: from -40 to +50 0.
Unattended operation time: up to 5 years

Slide 4

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

PSI Seismic Sensor

Key Features:
1.

Does not use geophone as sensor

2.

Multiple sensors within a housing

3.

Three-axis orientation

4.

Dimensions: approx. 6 dia x 6 height

5.

Weight: < 1.0 Kg

6.

FM vs AM device (key feature greatly reduces

system noise)

7.

Developmental engineering units tested there are

no production units

Slide 5

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Mojave Field Tests: 30 October 2014

Test Site Panorama

sensor
location

20 cm depth

Radiobarrier
RS-U sensor
Data collection station
Slide 6

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Test Scenario: Nominal Steps at 10 meters Spacing

Sensor
location

walk
tracks

Note: Nominal Steps defined as a deliberate walk by persons unaware of sensor presence. For a 200 lb male, the
impulse energy deposited in a single footstep depends on terrain. For an unprepared surface, the range is typically
between 7 Joules and 30 Joules.
Slide 7

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Nominal Footsteps at 167 meters

RMS
Background
Level

Footsteps
envelope

16 seconds
Slide 8

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Data Analysis
No detection algorithms have been implemented in the PSI sensor
FTA analysis based on simple running RMS fluctuations changes in the raw
data (output frequency) with linear trends removed

Characteristic averaging time based on time structure of footsteps 0.5 to 1 seconds

Explored multiple variations results very robust
Settled on 1024 ms averaging for running RMS fluctuations
Lots of room for improvement using sophisticated algorithms

Basic analytical approach:

Collect environmental baseline signals (clutter) using 300 seconds collection periods in the
absence of any activity just prior to, and after, data collection
Generate RMS fluctuation amplitude vs. time within a 1024 ms window
Advance the 1024 ms window by 340 ms and repeat calculation, resulting curve used as
basic output processed signal
Threshold for detection set based on observed background clutter maximum value for no
false alarms
Alarms triggered at any exceedance above observed environmental clutter maximum

Note: The Mojave environmental clutter on 30 Oct 2014 was about 6 times the RMS system noise for
the Psi sensor. Most of this clutter may have been attributable to the highway traffic 2.5 km away.
Slide 9

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Environmental Baseline: 300 seconds

Raw Signal Data

Linear Trend Removed

(6)

90

(3) 45

15

1024 ms Running RMS

Environmental Clutter
System RMS Noise Base Level

Note: 300 second background data collection no exceedances above 6 sigma of fluctuations base level
Slide 10

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

44.5 Joule Impulse Drops

Raw Signal Data

Linear Trend Removed

1024 ms Running RMS

20 m
45 m
50 m

70 m

93 m
157 m
176 m

Slide 11

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

44.5 Joule Impulse Drops: 1024 ms Running RMS

Raw Signal Data

230 m
176 m

Sensor malfunction

Linear Trend Removed

Detection with
malfunction

1024 ms Running RMS

290 m

190 m
250 m

320 m

Slide 12

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Nominal Footsteps at 133m - 163m: 1024 ms Running RMS

Raw Signal Data

Linear Trend Removed

1024 ms Running RMS

133 m

163 m
153 m

System Noise Level

Slide 13

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Nominal Footsteps at 87m to 163m: 1024 ms Running RMS

112 m
105 m

95 m

Detections

1024 ms Running RMS

121 m

Range at time
163 m

133 m

153 m

87 m

6 detection
threshold

Local Environmental Clutter

RSM System Noise Base

Time
Note: All exceedances above 6-sigma (90 units) are detection alarms for intruder footsteps.
Slide 14

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Vehicle Detection
Raw Signal Data

Linear Trend Removed

1024 ms Running RMS

1160 m

vehicle range at time

920 m

520 m

30 m

System Noise Base

Slide 15

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Conclusions
1. Radiobarrier RS-U sensor, characterized by USG test as best
performer, in the same environment failed to detect human
footsteps past 60 meters.
2. PSI sensor exhibits extremely low base noise levels suspect this
is due to its FM (vs. AM) design.
3. The PSI sensor easily detected human footstep activity out to 163
meters, the limit of the test conditions. Sensitivity to footsteps out to
distances greater than 200 meters may be possible.
4. The PSI sensor easily detected vehicle activity on unprepared
surfaces out to distances greater than 1 km.
5. Sensitivity to SUV class vehicles on unprepared surfaces out to
distances greater that 2 km may be possible

Note: the local environmental clutter seen at the Mojave test site was
most likely due to truck traffic on Highway 58, 2.5 km distant.
Slide 16

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Recommendation

Based on the overall assessment of this device, it is clear that PSI

sensor is, at a minimum, four times as sensitive as the best device
currently available. This gives it enormous potential to completely
displace all other seismic-type sensors currently on the market.
Recommend that FTA Board of Directors consider direct or indirect
investment into this technology at the next Board meeting.

Slide 17

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014

Questions?

Slide 18

PSI Sensor Assessment - 15 Dec 2014