Nano-Structured Carbon Monoxide Detector for Aerospace Applications

To address the Air Force need to detect carbon monoxide (CO) levels on military airlift aircraft and warn aircrew members once CO levels rise beyond a safety limit, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new and reliable Aero CO Detector (ACOD) based on a microcontroller and solid-state nanotechnology. Use of a nanostructured metal oxide semiconductor sensor and a microcontroller for signal processing make the ACOD light and compact. ACOD will accurately and reliably display real-time readings of CO concentration in parts per million (ppm) by volume, and emit distinctive visual and audible warnings when a CO level above the 35 ppm warning threshold is detected, as well as a further alert when CO level rises above the 200 ppm danger level. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of ACOD by designing and developing a prototype ACOD, and testing it. In Phase II POC plans to optimize the ACOD design, and ACOD performance, and to consolidate the ACOD structure to increase sensitivity, stability, reliability, and durability even under extreme environmental conditions such as those in an airlift aircraft cabin during aircraft normal and emergency operations.