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APPENDIX TWR1 - THE LADS DEVICE

Tuesday, September 09, 1997 10:20:09 AM

VSE CORP. LIFE ASSESMENT DECTECTOR SYSTEM (LADS)
Patent Pending

The Life Assessment Detector System (LADS), a microwave Doppler 
movement measuring device, can detect human body surface motion, 
including heartbeat and respiration, at ranges up to 135 feet 
(41.15 meters). The primary function of the LADS is to provide a 
reliable method by which medical and emergency personnel can 
locate personnel buried in building collapses or injured on the 
military battlefield. 

LADS can detect such signs of life as movement, heartbeat, or
respiration.

** NOTE: The referenced image of the LADS device is no longer
available at the http://www.vsecorp.com web site.  What it showed
was mainly a small dish antenna mounted on the top of a tripod.
(August 9, 1998)

Originally designed to detect heartbeat and respiration of military
personnel wearing chemical-biological warfare protective
overgarments, the LADS has been restructured, greatly increasing its
operational range and providing a means for eliminating
"nuisance alarms" which could mimic human life signs, such
as fans, wind drafts, or swaying trees.  This is accomplished through
neural network technology, which "trains" the system to
recognize human motion and heartbeat/respiration functions.  If these
functions are not detected, the reasonable assumption is that there
are no survivors. Operating under such an assumption, the rescue team
can now proceed without fear of further loss of life; i.e., rescue
and medical personnel and equipment can be deployed more effectively
and efficiently.

The LADS consists of a sensor module, a neural network module, and
a control/monitor module.  The sensor module is an x-band (10 GHz)
microwave transceiver with a nominal output power of 15 milliwatts,
operating in the continuous wave (CW) mode. The neural network module
device can store many complex patterns such as visual waveforms and
speech templates, and  can easily compare input patterns to
previously "trained" or stored patterns. 

The control/monitor module provides the LADS' instrument controls,
such as on-off switches, circuit breakers, and battery condition, as
well as motion, heartbeat waveform, pulse strength, and pulse rate
displays.

LADS provides life assessment capabilities for people who are:

- Trapped in building rubble;
- Battlefield casualties in a chemical/biological warfare environment;
- Victims of airline, train, or automobile crashes;
- Trapped in an avalanche or mud slide;
- Trapped on a mountain ledge;
- Trapped under a collapsed tent structure; or 
- Hostages being held in a nonmetallic room.

For more information about the LADS, send E-mail to: 

info [at] vsecorp [dot] com (1998 info)