An Evaluation of Electric-Field Sensors for Projectile Detection

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) conducted an experiment at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD, to collect bullet signature data using three different types of electric-field sensors. The first type is a free-space electric potential sensor; we used Remote Voltage Sensors (RVSs) manufactured by Quasar Federal Systems (QFS). The second type of sensor measures the electric field; we used QFS potential gradiometers and a varactor-based E-field sensor prototype designed by the University of North Carolina - Charlotte (UNCC). The third type of sensor is a "D-dot" charge induction probe designed and built by ARL. We analyzed the performance of each sensor type with regard to bullet detection capability. Mathematical models and signatures were developed for each sensor type, and actual signatures were measured and compared to these models.