A team of researchers at the University of Arizona has received a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Army to develop a new device designed to detect harmful chemicals, including deadly gases like sarin. The funding will support the creation of a portable, handheld sensor that could help protect military personnel from toxic threats.
The new device, called FLOWER, is aimed at detecting chemical warfare agents and other toxic substances at low concentrations. Unlike existing sensors, FLOWER does not require special tags, making it both more affordable and easier to use.
“Our goal is to create a tool that can be used in the field, either by military personnel or even deployed on drones,” said Judith Su, associate professor of biomedical engineering and optical sciences, and the project’s lead researcher.
The project originally began four years ago with funding from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to develop methods for detecting chemical warfare agents and their precursors. Now, with the additional support from the U.S. Army, the team is working to create a handheld device that could be used in a variety of situations.