The development

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The development integration of a Real-Time
X-Ray image transfer system over a wireless
networkFinal Year ProjectCapt David Clarke
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Outline Of Presentation

• Background to Army Ordnance Corps and their roles
• Allen-Vanguard ROV
• What is COFDM?
• X-Ray Non-destructive testing
• Project
• Summary

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Army Ordnance Corps

• The Ordnance Corps provide the only Explosive
  Ordnance Disposal service within the state
• Must keep abreast of current international
  terrorist devices
• Training constantly with latest equipment
• Serve overseas with every Battalion
• Also responsible for equipment , clothing, food,
  weapons, ammunition procurement for entire DF

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Army Ordnance Corps

• EOD Teams
• Ordnance School in Curragh Camp
• 24hr on call to Garda Siochana
• Using the Allen-Vanguard ROV for Bomb Disposal
• Has changed from Analogue to Digital in last 18
  months
• Ordnance Corps constantly upgrade the Hobo robot
  as general robot technology in the world is not
  mature enough

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Allen-Vanguard ROV

• Allen-Vanguard are leading company in the world
  with respect to counter IED and CBRN technology
• The HOBO is a sophisticated large bomb disposal
  robot constructed from tough titanium with heavy
  lifting capability. 
• Has been upgraded a lot in last few years
• Command Console uses a briefcase controller
  touch screen laptop

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COFDM

• Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
• Predominantly used in Europe and is governed by
  the Digital Video Broadcasting set of Standards
• Resistant to multi-path effects
• Scheme that divides a single
• digital signal across 1,000 or
• more signal carriers
• simultaneously, the signals
• are sent at right angles to each
• other
• Popular scheme for Wideband
• Digital Communication

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Advantages of COFDM

• Can easily adapt to severe channel conditions
  without complex equalization
• Robust against narrow-band co-channel
  interference
• Robust against Intersymbol Interference (ISI) and
  fading caused by multipath propagation
• Efficient Implementation using FFT.

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Disadvantages of COFDM

• High peak to average power ratio, which requires
  linear transmitter circuitry
• This results in poor power efficiency
• Sensitive to the Doppler Shift
• Sensitive to Frequency Synchronisation Problems

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Non-Destructive Testing X-RAY

• Obviously an EOD team require x-ray technology
• Vidisco are the leading company in X-Ray
  inspection systems
• Amorphous-Silicon Flat Panel Digital Radiography
• Fast Set-up and image can be retrieved in
  milliseconds
• Average size of image is 22 x 21 cm, file size
  approx 5MB fox-Rayzor system
• Hope to take this COTS commercial off the shelf
  product and improve it for DF needs

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Example of X-Ray Image
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Project

• Enable an x-ray to be sent from the source to a
  laptop or control unit wirelessly using COFDM
• At present the x-ray can only be done manually
• The x-ray should be able to work manually and
  remotely
• COFDM link will allow this to be done at extended
  distances and be much more reliable especially in
  built-up areas
• Review of Non-destructive testing can also be
  undertaken
• The milestones of project have yet to be decided
  on

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Summary

• Army Ordnance Corps, HOBO robot, COFDM
• Non-destructive testing, Requirements of DF
• Very interesting project
• Co-Supervisor Comdt Brian Hughes
• Commercial/Military Sensitivity
• If successful the system could be applied in an
  IEDD robot
• Career prospects - as it is a Corps I would love
  to work in
• Ordnance YOs Course - 2009/2010

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• Thank you for your
  attention