Amphibious Unmanned Ground Vehicle Sensor System for Rapid Detectin of PFAS in Water
In partnership with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
(ERDC), Mississippi State University's Geosystems Research Institute and
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering are building an amphibious
unmanned ground vehicle (MS-UGV) to collect and analyze samples for the
presence of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in water. Polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS), including PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are
man-made chemicals commonly used in consumer goods (e.g., apparel, paper,
plastic, carpet) and firefighting chemicals used by both the military and first
responders. Exposure to PFAS has led to liver disease, thyroid disease, and
some cancers. In 2018, the Department of Defense found over 400 military
installations with some level of PFAS contamination, 24 of these installations
having drinking water contaminations higher than the Environmental Protection
Agency’s lifetime health advisory of 70 ng/L.
To help facilitate shorter processing times and added safety from exposure,
sensors will be integrated onto an amphibious unmanned ground vehicle (AM-UGV)
to measure and transmit the concentration of PFOS in water. This device will
consist of a waterproof platform, a sample extractor, an electrochemical sensor
functionalized to determine PFOS concentration, and a communication system to
relay data within a quarter of a mile line of sight distance.
With the development of the AM-UGV, water sources for military bases, outposts, and other installations can be analyzed for carcinogenic materials rapidly while also limiting exposure to operators. The payoffs of this project are not limited to military operations but can also be used in civilian communities for rapid analysis of PFOS in drinking water sources. Additionally, this technology and platform can be functionalized to measure chemical warfare agents such as cyanide, sulfur mustard agents, organophosphorus nerve agents, as well as sarin.
For more information regarding this project visit: Amphibious Unmanned Ground Vehicle Sensor System for Rapid Detection of PFAS in Water
THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE THAT IS ABLE TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF PERFLUOROCTANE SULFONATE (PFOS) IN WATER RAPIDLY.
With the development of the AM-UGV, water sources for military bases, outposts, and other installations can be analyzed for carcinogenic materials rapidly while also limiting exposure to operators. The payoffs of this project are not limited to military operations but can also be used in civilian communities for rapid analysis of PFOS in drinking water sources. Additionally, this technology and platform can be functionalized to measure chemical warfare agents such as cyanide, sulfur mustard agents, organophosphorus nerve agents, as well as sarin.
For more information regarding this project visit: Amphibious Unmanned Ground Vehicle Sensor System for Rapid Detection of PFAS in Water