Army Develops Prototype for Chemical Identifier
By Debbie Gregory.
A field-deployable liquid chemical identifier called the VK3 has received positive feedback from warfighters and first responders in a recent field test funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
U.S. Army research officials have developed the handheld detector that can “taste” suspicious liquids to see if they are dangerous chemical warfare agents.
The VK3 uses a camera and small computer to identify chemical agent by analyzing colorimetric sensors on an assay.
“We had seen and heard that those who are tasked with site exploitation — the first people in a facility where somebody is making something — needed tools to better identify the substances being made,” said Army research biologist Aleksandr Miklos in a recent service press release. “Maybe it’s perfectly legal and safe, but maybe they’re doing something illicit and dangerous. The first examiner has to decide what tools to bring. We thought something like this with a colorimetric array would be helpful.”
The small, cube-like device features a camera and small computer, and the kit includes paper colorimetric assays. After placing an assay on the device’s stage for a reference image, a drop is added to the assay. As various spots on the assay change color, they are captured by the camera and continuously analyzed by the computer to identify the substance.
During the recent Chemical Biological Operational Analysis, or CBOA, the VK3 demonstrated its ability to identify chemical liquids in the field, including chemical warfare agents.
“What we were able to get was informal, verbal feedback from the assessor and from end users in the Army and civilian law enforcement,” said Miklos.
“It’s a really cool research prototype, and now we know more about how it works,” he said. “The question is going to be whether it gets more funding for advanced development. What we need is for someone to say, ‘Yes, we want that.’ “
