Modular optical detection system for point airborne and area surface substance detection

A detection system and method are provided having vehicle-mounted and manportable mobile surveillance capabilities with minimal equipment redundancy. The system comprises a vehicle-mounted sensor unit, a hand-held unit, a manportable unit and a vehicle-mounted air collector unit. The vehicle-mounted sensor unit comprises a spectroscopy subsystem that is configured to direct light onto a surface outside the vehicle and to capture scattered optical energy from the surface outside the vehicle while the vehicle is moving. The hand-held unit may be removably mounted to the air collector unit to interrogate airborne particles in collected air. The hand-held unit is removable from the air collector unit and is connected to the manportable unit by a cable so as to form an integrated portable detection system for mobile surveillance away from the vehicle by a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A body of technology has been developed for non-contact substance detection of substances. One application of this technology is to detect for the presence of a substance that is harmful to humans, whether intentionally or inadvertently deployed.

Spectroscopy is an example of a technology that is used to analyze the spectrum produced in response to illumination of a substance with a beam of light. For example, the beam of light may be in the ultraviolet wavelength region. The light beam interacts with the substance(s) surface and scatters back or returns optical energy in certain wavelength regions depending on the chemical or biological make-up of the substance(s). The returned optical energy is also referred to as the signature. In a spectroscopy-based detection system, the constituent wavelengths of the returned optical energy are separated out by a spectrograph and measured.

Raman spectroscopy is a spectroscopy technique useful to study vibrational, rotational, and other low-frequency modes in a system. Fluorescence spectroscopy is another response useful to discern characteristics of a substance. Fluorescence refers to emission of light caused when a material absorbs optical energy of one wavelength and re-emits light of another wavelength. Fluorescence spectroscopy has evolved into a powerful tool for the study of chemical, semiconductor, photochemical, and biochemical species.

One platform for deploying spectroscopy detection equipment is a manned or unmanned vehicle. On such a platform, it is desirable to minimize the amount of equipment needed to carry out the desired functions in order to conserve space, weight and power resources, but without sacrificing detection capabilities. Thus, whereas devices may be heretofore known that are each capable of performing a specific detection technique, what is needed is a detection system made of modules that use the same detection technologies and therefore can share many components for optimal deployment in a space-limited platform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, a detection system and method are provided having vehicle-mounted and manportable mobile surveillance capabilities with minimal equipment redundancy. The system comprises a vehicle-mounted sensor unit, a hand-held unit, a manportable unit and a vehicle-mounted air collector unit. The vehicle-mounted sensor unit comprises a spectroscopy subsystem that is configured to direct light to a surface beneath the vehicle and to capture scattered optical energy from the surface beneath the vehicle while the vehicle is moving. The hand-held unit comprises a light source that emits a light beam onto a surface on which surface a substance to be analyzed may be present, and collection optics that captures scattered optical energy from the surface. The manportable unit connects to the hand-held unit to receive the scattered optical energy captured by the hand-held unit. The manportable unit further comprises a spectrograph that converts the captured scattered optical energy from the hand-held unit to spectrum data.

The vehicle-mounted air collector unit collects air and separates particles in the collected air for deposit onto a collection surface. The air collecting unit comprises a port to permit optical access to the collection surface by the hand-held unit and a support structure (e.g., a holster) that removably supports the hand-held unit in a position so that the light source in the hand-held unit can direct light onto the collection surface and the collection optics can capture scattered optical energy from the collection surface.

The hand-held unit is removable from the air collector unit to permit the manportable unit and the hand-held unit to be carried away from the vehicle for use as an integrated portable detection system by a user for mobile surveillance of surfaces outside of the air sampler, and/or away from the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to a modular detection system capable of point airborne and area surface contamination detection. The system may be deployed on a manned or unmanned vehicle in one embodiment.

Referring first toFIG. 1, the modular detection system according to the present invention is shown generally at10and comprises a manportable unit100and an associated hand-held unit200(also referred to herein as a “wand”) an air sampler or collector unit300, a vehicle mounted sensor unit400and a control unit500. In one embodiment, the air sampler300and control unit500are mounted on the same vehicle as the vehicle-mounted sensor400, and the air sampler300and the vehicle-mounted sensor400connect to the control unit500by wired connections302and402, respectively. The manportable unit100may connect to the control unit500by a wired connection102or by a wireless link. For example, the manportable unit100may comprise an antenna110that is used for wireless communication with antenna510of the control unit500. The control unit500may be in further communication, by wired or wireless link, with a remotely located scene coordination unit.

The manportable unit100and its associated hand-held unit200are useful for mobile contamination surface detection for surveillance and mapping capabilities. The air sampler300collects samples of air that may contain airborne contaminants in the form of aerosols or vapors. On the other hand, the vehicle-mounted sensor400is designed to scan a surface, such as a road or ground surface, from a vehicle to which it is mounted as the vehicle moves about. The units100,200,300and400have overlapping functions. The vehicle-mounted sensor400may be one that is already capable of remotely analyzing surfaces for various substances. An example of a detection system400is the LISA™ Raman detector manufactured and marketed by ITT Industries. The LISA™ Raman detector is capable of performing standoff or remote surface detection of solids and liquids. By employing a modular design, some of the common elements do not need to be duplicated, thereby increasing the efficiency of space, weight and power. In addition, system complexity can be reduced while expanding surveillance capabilities as will become apparent hereinafter.

One advantage of the air sampler module300is that it does not require integration of a new detection technique; it can be used with a proven manportable detection system (comprised of units100and200) that is already in use for non-contact detection of substances on surfaces, thereby leveraging the same system to detect aerosols and vapor-sourced particles contained in collected air samples. Consequently, it is possible to search/scan for aerosols or vapors before liquid is on the ground and for vapors when no liquid will be detected on the ground.

Turning toFIG. 2, the system10is shown mounted on a vehicle600wherein the manportable unit100is being worn by a person who is also holding in his/her hand the hand-held unit200. There is an input/output box620that holds a movable directional air intake vent630and an air return bellows640. The movable directional air vent630is coupled to the intake port of the air sampler300and is used to capture air that is to be analyzed. The air return bellows640exhausts the air from the air sampler300to the atmosphere in such a manner as to avoid introducing the exhausted air back into the intake vent630. A vehicle600equipped with a detection equipment shown inFIG. 2provides for the capability of detecting substances (liquid and/or solid) by scanning a surface outside (e.g., beneath) the vehicle600and airborne substances in an environment while moving at relatively high speeds. The vehicle600may be a manned vehicle or an unmanned vehicle, and need not take the form of a car or truck. For example, the vehicle may be a robot or other mechanized mobile device that is capable of moving about a region and carrying the equipment described herein.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, the air sampler300is shown in more detail. The air sampler300comprises a body or housing310having an intake port312and an exhaust port314. The intake port312draws in air and any airborne (aerosol) particles or vapor in the air. To this end, one or more pumps and a motor driven blower fan (not shown) may be provided in the housing310to draw air through the intake port312and pass exhaust to the exhaust port314. There is an interrogation port316that provides optical access to the interior of the body310for purposes described hereinafter.

Within the air sampler300, there is an inlet prefilter320through which collected air passes. The output of the inlet prefilter320is coupled to a virtual impactor330. The inlet prefilter320is a mechanical device that acts like a self cleaning filter to prevent larger particles from entering the housing310and interfering with operation of the virtual impactor330. One output flow of the virtual impactor330goes to an aerosol concentrator332, and the other output flow goes to a vapor concentrator340. The aerosol concentrator332directs collected aerosol particles onto a collection surface on a carousel334for optical interrogation. Similarly, the vapor concentrator340concentrates vapor to a vapor collector342which condenses vapors on collection surface of a carousel344for optical interrogation. In one embodiment, the air sampler300may include only aerosol capturing capability for certain applications, in which case the vapor concentrator340, vapor collector342and carousel344would not be provided.

The virtual impactor330is a device that sorts the aerosol particles out of the sampled air and directs those particles to the aerosol concentrator332. Not by way of limitation, the virtual impactor330may be a MicroVIC® Particle Concentrator, manufactured by MesoSystems Technology, Inc. The aerosol concentrator332directs the aerosol particles (solid or liquid) through an impaction nozzle and to the carousel334. For example, the Micro VIC® is equipped with impaction nozzles that perform the function of the aerosol concentrator332. Thus, in one embodiment, a single device may perform the functions of the virtual impactor330and the aerosol concentrator332.

The carousel334comprises a surface or collection media on which particles separated from the collected air are directed by the aerosol concentrator332. As shown inFIG. 4, the carousel aerosol collection surface is, for example, a disk or a plate shaped device. The aerosol cloud is accelerated through the aerosol concentrator332and directed at the carousel334. The aerosol particles, due to their inertia, impact directly on the carousel334.

The carousel334continues to collect the particles until there is an amount sufficient for interrogation. In one embodiment, the carousel334rotates the collected particles to position to be illuminated by a laser while aerosol particles are collected on a different portion of the carousel334. For example, the carousel334may comprise a disk-shaped surface onto which particles separated from collected air are impacted or concentrated at one position of the disk, while particles previously collected and concentrated onto another position of the disk are illuminated by a laser. The disk is rotated for each new collection cycle. After collected particles are interrogated by a laser, they may be offloaded from the carousel334and stored in the sample storage container for further analysis at a later point in time. This allows a user to perform additional confirmatory and forensic test on aerosol samples or threats.

The other output flow from the virtual impact goes to the vapor concentrator340. Many technologies are known for performing the function of the vapor concentrator340. Two examples of suitable devices are the “Mesochannel” gas sampler (MGS) concentrator, developed by MesoSystems Technologies, Inc., with U.S. government support; and a version of the Cascade Avalanche Sorbent Plate Array (CASPAR) concentrator developed at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, but commercially available.

Vapor concentration by either an MGS type device or a CASPAR type device is allowed to continue until the minimum amount of air is processed through the device to build the concentration level, as dictated by a complete signature analysis of the designated list of substances of interest. After a vapor has been concentrated, the adsorbed molecules are desorbed on the vapor collector342.

There are several methods of collecting the concentrated vapor for Raman interrogation, including without limitation, a cold plate, a micro porous surface or a vacuum cell. A cold plate design is based on the principle that if a vapor impinges on a cold surface, the vapor condenses to yield a liquid. This liquid can then be interrogated using a Raman-based detection system as described above for collected aerosol particles. In one embodiment, cooling the cold plate may be done with an integral thermal electric cooler (TEC). Collecting water vapor can be minimized using dry air in the desorption step of the vapor concentrator. The cold plate may be cleaned by applying heat to it to drive off the liquid.

Turning toFIG. 5A, a schematic diagram of the interior of the air sampler300is shown. Inside the air sampler300, there are fixed optical elements (e.g., mirrors)350,352and354and an optional movable optical element (e.g., flipper mirror)356. The function of the optical elements350,352,354and356is to provide a bi-directional optical path between the interrogation port316and the aerosol carousel334, or between the interrogation port316and the vapor carousel344. The movable optical element356is moved between one of two positions, wherein in one position, it completes an optical path with the carousel334and, in another position, it completes an optical path with the carousel344. In the event that the air sampler300is designed to capture aerosol particles only, the movable optical element356is not necessary and only one or more fixed optical elements may be needed to complete an optical path with the aerosol carousel334.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the air sampler300has a holster or support mount/structure360positioned at the interrogation port316to removably receive and support the hand-held unit200in position and alignment with optical components. In this way, the optical interrogation components contained inside the hand-held unit200can be used to interrogate collected aerosol particles or vapor-sourced particles inside the air sampler300.

The holster360, shown in greater detail inFIG. 5B, comprises a cylindrical hollow body having a first length portion that attaches to the housing of the air sampler300and a second length portion364that receives the hand-held unit200. The second length portion364comprises slots366that are designed to receive a certain external structure of the hand-held unit200to ensure proper alignment/orientation of the hand-held unit200therein for interaction with the optical components inside the housing of the air sampler300. The slots366are one example of registering the hand-held unit200with the air sampler300. Other complementary structures on the hand-held unit200and the air sampler300may be used.

Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, an air collector unit is provided that comprises a housing, a virtual impactor or other device contained in the housing that separates aerosol particles in collected air, a collection surface on which particles separated from collected air by the virtual impactor are collected, an opening in the housing, and a support structure on the housing that is suitable for removably supporting an interrogation unit so as to permit the interrogation unit (hand-held unit200) to illuminate the collection surface and capture scattered optical energy from the collection surface.

Turning now toFIG. 6, the manportable unit100and hand-held unit200are described in greater detail. The manportable unit100comprises a spectrograph120, a control and data acquisition processor130, a display140, a power supply150, a radio frequency (RF) wireless transceiver/modem155for supporting wireless communication via antenna157and an alarm device160. The power supply150supplies power for the components in the manportable unit100as well as for some components in the hand-held unit200. The display140may be a snap-on or flip-down display mechanism viewable by the operator, or a display visible on a visor, such as a heads-up display. The display140can be used to display information to the user concerning the detection of hazardous substances.

In one embodiment, the spectrograph120comprises a light dispersing element and a detector. The light dispersing element may be a diffraction grating or prism and the detector may be an intensified charge coupled device (ICCD), for example. The light dispersing element uses dispersive optics to separate the constituent wavelengths (colors) of the light directed to it and directs the dispersed light onto the detector. The detector detects the light intensity at each of a plurality of wavelength “bins” and produces a signal or digital data that representative thereof. The processor130may be a computer, digital signal processor, programmable microcontroller or other computing device that analyzes the spectrum data produced by the spectrograph120. The processor130uses a stored library of known spectra and attempts to match the measured spectra (produced by the spectrograph120) with the library spectra so as to identify a substance in the collected and sampled particles or substances. The results of the analysis may then be supplied to the transceiver90for transmission to a remote device for further study or for informational purposes. The transceiver155may receive commands from a remote controller or device and in response transmit reports concerning the substances on an interrogated surface. The transceiver155may employ wired communication techniques or wireless (e.g., radio frequency) communication techniques via antenna157. In an alternative embodiment, the manportable unit may transmit the spectrum data it produces to a remote device, (i.e., the control unit500) for analysis.

The processor130may be a computer containing memory in which one or more programs are stored that cause the computer to perform various spectroscopy analysis algorithms and control procedures. In particular, when the manportable unit100and the hand-held unit200are used to interrogate a surface away from the vehicle (while carried by a person), the processor130may perform a fall analysis of the spectrum data produced by the spectrograph120, or it may be perform a fast first level analysis and then send the unprocessed or preprocessed spectrum data to a remote unit for more in depth processing of the spectrum data. The alarm device160in the manportable unit100produces an audible and/or visual alert notification when activated. The alarm device160may be integrated into the display140.

The hand-held unit200is connected by an umbilical cable170to the manportable unit100. The hand-held unit200is held in the hand of a user and is used to emit a light beam onto a surface to analyze with spectroscopy techniques a substance in solid or liquid phase on a surface in order to determine a composition of the substance. The substance may be a hazardous substance or contaminant, such as a chemical, biological or explosive substance on the ground, floor, wall or other objects. Generally, the hand-held unit200is used to interrogate a suspected surface at a stand-off distance of approximately one meter, and to return spectrum related data about the threat to the manportable unit100that analyzes the spectrum related data, determines whether there is a presence of a harmful threat, and rapidly issues a notification of the type of threat, e.g., in less than a second. In addition, according to one aspect of the present invention, the hand-held unit200may also be used to interrogate particles obtained from air samples by the air sampler300when it is placed in the holster360of the air sampler300.

The hand-held unit200comprises a laser light source210, telescope and supporting collection optics220and a controller250. The laser light source210emits an interrogating light beam and the telescope and supporting optics220capture the returned optical energy and direct that energy over the umbilical300to the spectrograph120in the manportable unit100. The controller250controls operation of the laser210in response to commands received from the manportable unit100. The hand-held unit200may also comprise an alarm device260similar to alarm device160in the manportable unit100.

The cable170comprises a fiber optic bundle172to couple the optical energy captured by the hand-held unit200to the spectrograph120in the manportable unit100. The cable170also comprises at least one electrical conductor174(and more likely a plurality of electrical conductors) used to communicate commands from the manportable unit100to the hand-held unit200and other data from the hand-held unit200to the manportable unit100.

The laser210in the hand-held unit generates an interrogating light beam directed at a surface of interest. The telescope and supporting optics220capture returned optical energy from the surface of interest. The light beam may any suitable type of light that is useful for analyzing characteristics of a liquid and/or solid substance on a surface. For example, the laser210may produce an ultraviolet (UV) laser beam, such as an Nd:YAG or Nd:YLF laser. Moreover, the laser210may produce beam of light such that the returned optical energy consists of Raman scattered optical energy that is analyzed using spectroscopy techniques. Associated with the laser210there may also be visual range finding optics for focusing the light beam at stand-off distances onto the surface of interest.

The manportable unit100may be in communication with the control unit500by wired or wireless link. In the control unit500, there is an RF transceiver520, an analysis processor530and a display540. The control unit500may coordinate operations of the manportable unit100and the vehicle-mounted sensor400. The analysis processor530may be used to perform spectral analysis on the spectrum data produced by the manportable unit100when the hand-held unit200is interrogating a surface in the air sampler300. However, it is also possible that the processor130in the manportable unit100may process the spectrum data produced when the hand-held unit200interrogates a surface in the air sampler300. In addition, the analysis processor530may be used to perform analysis on the spectrum data obtained by the vehicle-mounted sensor unit400.

The control unit500may be in further communication with a scene control unit or station1100. The scene control unit1100may include a network interface, such as an Ethernet hub (E-Net hub)1110, a status computer1120, a display1130and a power supply1140. The scene control unit1110may be operated by a commander on the scene, for example, whose responsibility it is to coordinate activity with respect to actual or potential detection of a hazardous substance.

Turning toFIGS. 7-9, the hand-held unit200is described in more detail. In one embodiment, the hand-held unit200may comprise a main housing202and a hand-grip portion204. The housing contains the controller230and related hardware and also serves as a support for the laser210. The laser210is mounted on the top of the housing202and includes fold mirrors212and focusing optical elements214that permit the laser210to be emitted co-linearly with the boresight of the collection telescope. There is a laser power meter216that receives a small fraction of the laser light via one of the fold mirror212to permit monitoring of the laser power being transmitted. There is an articulated arm connection218associated with the laser220that can tip and tilt the optical axis of the laser beam. The fold mirrors212can tip or tilt to adjust the optical path of the laser beam. The housing202has a front window208sized to support the optical elements associated with the laser210and the telescope220thereby eliminating the need for spider supports that would otherwise interfere with detection of Raman backscatter. The supporting optics for the telescope220comprises a fixed primary mirror222and a movable secondary mirror224. The secondary mirror224can tip and tilt to adjust the optical path for the returned optical energy through the telescope220. The telescope220focuses any reflected backscattered (e.g., Raman) light into the fiber optic bundle172that is connected to the hand-held unit200and that in turn delivers the returned optical energy to the spectrograph120contained in the manportable unit100(FIG. 2).

According to one embodiment, to obtain UV wavelength laser light, a 1047 nm light beam is twice frequency doubled and includes an optical network is provided that separates the three wavelengths generated to produce the desired UV laser light to the output for transmission. Details of such the frequency-doubling optical network are not provided herein because such techniques are known in the art.

There is a cover219that fits over the back of the housing202to protect the controller250and related components. In addition to the handle or grip204there is an elongated arm270on which a user may place another hand to assist in holding the unit200.

On opposite sides of the housing202there are focusing diodes217that are used to assist the user in manually keeping the hand-held unit200at the proper focal distance from the surface being interrogated. The diodes217are angled inward with respect to each other such that the beams they emit intersect on the surface at a predetermined distance from the hand-held unit200, e.g., approximately one meter. The point of intersection corresponds with the optimum focus distance of the telescope220.

As shown inFIG. 8, there is a “dead-man's” switch252on the handle or grip204and there are two switches256and258located on the back of the unit200as shown inFIG. 5. To make the hand-held unit200operational, these three switches are actuated in order. Specifically, after a software operation at the manportable unit100enables the system, the switch252on the handle204is first actuated to close an operating circuit. Next, switch256on the back of the hand-held unit200is actuated to turn on the focusing diodes217. Finally, the switch258is actuated to turn on the laser210or open a physical shutter on the device200that permits the laser light to be emitted. One or more lights (e.g., LEDs)254on the back of the unit200may be provided to indicate whether the unit is on and operational.

Turning toFIG. 10, another embodiment of the invention is described. In this embodiment, the spectrograph120in the manportable unit100is modified to simultaneously collect Raman scattering and fluorescence scattering in response to UV illumination of a surface, such as a collection surface in the air sampler300. The UV illumination is in the “deep” UV wavelength region (less than 263 μm) so that the Raman scattering and the fluorescence scattering are in different wavelength regions. To this end, there are two light dispersing elements122A and122B and a wavelength selective optical element123. The wavelength selective optical element123separates the Raman scattering from fluorescence scattering since they are in two different wavelength regions. By way of example only, the wavelength selective optical element123is a dichroic mirror, tunable bandpass filter or reflective Kerr medium capable of directing Raman scattering RS in a first wavelength region to the first light dispersing element122A and directing fluorescence scattering FS in a second wavelength region to a second light dispersing element122B. For example, the Raman scattering is in a first wavelength region extending 263 nm to 284 nm and the fluorescence scattering is in a second wavelength region extending from 284 nm to 550 nm. The light dispersing element122A separates out the constituent wavelengths of the Raman scattering and directs those wavelengths of light to a detector124A. The light dispersing element122A separates out the constituent wavelengths of fluorescence scattering and directs those wavelengths of light to a detector124B.

The first detector124A detects the light intensity at each of a plurality of wavelength bins and produces a signal or Raman digital data that represents the Raman scattering. The second detector124B detects the light intensity at each of a plurality of wavelength bins and produces a signal or fluorescence digital data that represents the fluorescence scattering. By way of example, the first detector124A may be a gated detector array such as an ICCD that converts the incoming spectra to digital data. Similarly, the second detector124B is an ICCD, or an array of very fast gated photodiodes that can capture not only the shape of the fluorescence spectra but also the snapshots of the fluorescence spectra at multiple time instances over a time interval following a pulse or burst of a UV light beam for purposes of deriving the fluorescence lifetime at one or more detection wavelengths. Thus, Raman spectra and fluorescence spectra are simultaneously captured from a single pulse or burst of UV light, or average such data obtained as a result of each of several pulses of UV light.

The processor130can then analyze the Raman data and fluorescence data. Moreover, the processor130may compute fluorescence lifetime data at one or more detection wavelengths from fluorescence data obtained from the second detector124B at each of the plurality of time instances (hereinafter referred to as the “fluorescence samples”) over the time interval following the UV light beam pulse or burst. Thus, the data processor may analyze the Raman spectra, fluorescence spectra and fluorescence lifetime at one or more wavelengths to characterize or identify substances. Alternatively, the manportable unit200may transmit the Raman data and fluorescence data to the control unit500wherein the processor530may perform the analysis on the Raman and fluorescence data.

Heretofore, it is not known to use Raman for detecting non-fluorescing substances. By using “deep” UV laser light, the Raman scattering will be in a different wavelength region than that of the background noise (e.g., fluorescence spectrum). As a result, the signal-to-interference ration (S/I) is relatively strong. These techniques can be used to continuously monitor particles extracted from collected air. The UV light employed by the techniques described herein will not degrade the interrogated particles.

FIG. 11illustrates the various capabilities of the system10according to embodiments of the invention. As indicated above, the system10is mounted on a vehicle and may be operated while the vehicle is moving. For example, the vehicle-mounted sensor400may be operated to monitor the ground surface for liquid or solid threats and/or the hand-held unit200may be installed in the holster of the air sampler300to interrogate aerosol particles or vapor-sourced particles associated with any potential airborne contaminants. In addition, the manportable portion of the system may be deployed off of the vehicle to allow a person to scan the ground surface away from the vehicle and report back to the control unit on the vehicle as to any detected contaminants.

The spectroscopy techniques described herein do not require targeting. Targeting involves locating a particle of interest through highly complex algorithms that nearly always require human intervention or confirmation, and then subsequently “zooming” in on a particle of interest for more detailed analysis. Thus, targeting techniques do not allow for continuous monitoring, such as continuous monitoring of collected air. Furthermore, the techniques of the present invention do not rely on fluorescing or auto-fluorescing whereas prior art spectroscopy techniques for biological substances only use fluorescence analysis and therefore would not be able to detect non-fluorescing biological substances.

There are numerous other advantages of the detection system and methods described herein. The system is comprised of multiple modules that use a common technology and common analysis electronics/software. For example, and not by way of limitation, the control unit500may include the processing algorithms needed to process spectrum data produced by the vehicle-mounted sensor unit400and the manportable unit100when interrogating particles obtained by the air sampler300. That is, the processor530in the control unit500is used to analyze Raman data (produced by the spectrograph in the manportable unit100) to detect a non-fluorescing substance and to analyze fluorescence data (also produced by the spectrograph in the manportable unit100) to detect a fluorescing substance. The manportable unit100need only include the processing algorithms needed to perform first level fast analysis of spectrum data when the manportable unit100and hand-held unit200are deployed by a user away from the vehicle. This reduces the number of components, and thus cost, for a system having both vehicle-mounted detection functions and manportable detection functions. The system has on-the-move non-contact detection capabilities afforded by the vehicle-mounted sensor. In addition, the system is capable of detecting fluorescent and non-fluorescent aerosol substances from collected air samples. The system also has manportable vehicle-dismounted surveillance capabilities for surface substances afforded by the manportable unit in conjunction with the hand-held detection unit.

The system and methods described herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative and not meant to be limiting.