QUASAR Federal Systems is pleased to launch its revamped website. A lot has changed for us since we launched our first site in 2005 and we are happy to have a new platform now to tell everyone about it.
Some of our most notable work in the past decade has been in airborne EM sensing for direction finding and geolocation. QFS has achieved some world firsts since the initial flight test of our 6-axis EM sensing devices in the nosecone of a large plane in 2005, creating ever more compact systems for small aircraft and extending their operating bandwidths for various applications.
After the successful nosecone test, we began building a series of sensing pods for mounting on aircraft. A number of these devices have been constructed and flown on various aircraft around the US.
Today we’re building some much smaller devices. A six-axis device (3 axes of electric field and 3 of magnetic field) built recently is shown below. This is the heart of a design for a small UAV-mounted system that can both direction find and provide single-measurement geolocation capabilities.
In addition to airborne signal acquisition work, QFS instrumented a UAV with electric potential sensors for DARPA’s NIMBUS program. The goal of our effort was to fly the craft into thunderstorms to take measurements of lightning processes in thunderclouds for atmospheric research.
We have also been doing some interesting work in E-field based bullet detection, underwater E-field sensing, LF/VLF sensing for location applications, tunnel detection and many others.
With the launch of this site, QFS is kicking off a larger effort to stay in touch with our customers. Please connect with us on LinkedIn to get our announcements!
Tunnel Detection
QFS is exploring a variety of concepts for this important, challenging application. We have investigated installed ground sensing networks, vehicle mounted systems, sensors designed to be dropped from the air, and even airborne detection of underground structures. Our system is capable of both identifying Electromagnetic signatures (from power lines) and also void detection using geophysics.
Explosive Detection
QFS has been exploring the potential of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for detection of hidden explosives under DARPA's "MEDS" Program. A prototype system built under this project delivered good detection rates with low probability of false alarms without the use of ionizing radiation, which enables safe and quick screening of people and animals.
Weapons Detection
QFS has built a metal detection apparatus in the form of an entry gate that incorporates sensors into its structure. The system is passive, which means it can be used for covert screening as there is no potential harm to subjects going through it, and configurable into other modalities such as stanchion polls and doorframes. The readout screen can be affixed to the entrance portal or can be located remotely to conceal the function if desired.
Intruder Detection
QFS is investigating the potential of using its technology to create a quickly deployable intruder detection system. Sensors in a cable modality could be buried in the ground, incorporated into concrete, or deployed temporarily in a mat or pad to create a perimeter around a secure area. The system would be sensitive to the electrical properties of living bodies and/or vehicles and would be difficult to spoof.
Powerline Mapping & Monitoring
QFS's E-field sensing technology is ideal for detecting, mapping and monitoring power lines. We have executed projects establishing the feasibility of detecting powered underground facilities, including tunnels, airborne mapping of buried powerlines, identification of anomalous power use levels by quantifying voltage moving through lines, and characterization of powered equipment by the harmonics it causes on the line.
Performance & SWaP Improvements
QFS is committed to continuous technical and usability Improvements of our technology and methods. We strive to provide our customers with SWaP optimized sensor systems. Contact us to discuss a calibrated solution to meet your needs.