Optical taggants from Brimrose improve Warfighter target identification
Sparks, MD--Hyperspectral imaging and imaging spectrometer manufacturer Brimrose Technology Corporation is introducing a new generation of optical taggants that lets the U.S. Warfighter be able to see and process critical information beyond what the human eye can see even with the help of third-generation night-vision goggles. Optical taggants are target identifiers located on friendly or enemy personnel or material that enable the Warfighter to make critical decisions in target identification in a tactical environment.
Brimrose is supplying its highly advanced short-wave infrared acousto-optic tunable filter (SWIR AOTF) hyperspectral imager to provide the Warfighter with "special eyes" to find and locate TTL (Tagging, Tracking & Locating) taggants that are not observable by commonly used 3G night-vision goggles, which are globally available. The optical taggants themselves are made of a proprietary fiber material. Brimrose performs materials research with nanomaterials and quantum dots, both of which are used to make the next generation of optical taggants.
"The 21st century battlefield is evolving rapidly and for the U.S. Army to stay out in front of it we need to continue to employ tools and tactics that keep us ahead of those who would do harm to our nation" says Brimrose CEO Ron Rosemeier. "With these new taggants, we are opening opportunities at the edge that will make our fighting forces more effective."
The SWIR AOTF hyperspectral imagers let the soldier in the field identify optical taggants at a highly specific wavelength that is outside of the commonly viewed IR frequencies. When the taggant activates or fluoresces, the soldier can track friendly troop and material movements. The soldier also has a Brimrose covert source invisible to the naked eye that he can track and locate which provides critical information about enemy troop and vehicle movement, weaponry, contraband, as well as being useful for other purposes. This source is also beyond the range of 3G night goggles.
It is critical that the optical taggants only be seen by the observing party, the U.S. Warfighter. When all parties have goggles that can see the activated taggants, as is the case with 3G IR goggles, they lose their effectiveness. The new generation of Brimrose taggants can be seen only by those using SWIR technology. "The U.S. soldier must be in the position where he can make informed decisions” says Rosemeier. “U.S.-only readable optical taggants allow him to do that on a variety of fronts, including at the edge, where the gathering of enemy intelligence is critical."
SOURCE: Brimrose Technology Corporation; http://www.brimrose.com/press.html#hero_pr_taggants
Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)
Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.