Miniaturized Real-Time Airborne Bio-Agents Detector for Expendable-UAVs

A prototype of the Airborne Bio-Agents Detector System (ABADS), enabled by MicroElectro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), for biological agents collection, manipulation, and identification using amperometric DNA/RNA detection techniques has been developed. MEMS based micro-fabrication techniques such as photolithography, thin-film processing, and bulk substrate forming creates the necessary fluidic channels and bio-sensors for the ABADS. The MEMS based biochemical detection system is unique in providing complete detection from air sampling and particle processing to final biochemical-electrode detection, in a fully integrated package. In addition, an expandable and compact Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is being developed to accommodate the ABADS payload. The compactness of the UAV design is afforded by recent advances in miniaturized Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, radio frequency (RF) transceivers, microprocessor core systems, MEMS based gyros and accelerometers, and a unique aerial vehicle platform.