Detect-Ion, a startup focused on the detection and identification of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive substances, announced it had secured a research contract with the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), a government agency within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, to develop a sensor to identify aerosol-based chemical threats.

The company will use the funding to develop a compact or "low-SWaP" (size, weight and power) sensor platform called Spectral to detect the presence of hazardous aerosols in complex urban environments.

Detect-Ion will leverage AI to help detect and identify aerosolized chemical threats and work with three (unnamed) subcontractors to develop the sensor.

The final product will be fully deployable and able to detect and collect samples of aerosolized chemicals, even at low levels.

IARPA invests in high-risk, high-reward research programs to advance capabilities in threat detection. 

"Aerosols may be invisible, but the dangers they pose are very real," Dr. Ashish Chaudhary, founder of Detect-Ion, said in a statement. "Through innovative hardware design and the implementation of cutting-edge artificial intelligence, we aim to make critical decision-making easier and faster than ever before."

THE LARGER TREND

Swiftly identifying hazardous chemicals is essential for effective counterterrorism measures, emergency response protocols and public health initiatives.

Rapid detection enables timely responses during emergencies, such as industrial accidents or natural disasters, allowing authorities to take appropriate measures to mitigate risks, and to protect civilians and emergency responders.

Last year, Detect-Ion secured a contract with the Department of Defense through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Defense Innovation Unit to develop a handheld device called Clarion that could analyze exhaled breath components to detect multiple infectious pathogens.

The project spans three years. If it meets program metrics to satisfaction, it will allow the DoD to pursue further production, and enable the screening of large quantities of people across various densely populated military and civilian locations.

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