Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) Article on 21CSI HIRSA
Early last year, 12 private companies visited Yuma Proving Ground to demonstrate border surveillance and detection technologies proposed for use along the nation of Jordan's 1700 mile border. Officials from Jordan were on hand to critically view the wares from each vendor. They selected DRS Technologies to provide a system and the firm recently returned to the proving ground for further testing and to demonstrate its system to several U.S. government agencies, including the border patrol.
Supported by 10 Yuma Test Center employees at a site on the Cibola Range, DRS Technologies mounted sensor systems on multiple telescoping towers and installed several dozen unattended ground sensors to detect roaming vehicles or people in low-lying gaps not 'seen' by equipment on the towers. The highly sophisticated system is similar in concept to the virtual fence developed by another vendor deployed with mixed results on a portion of the U.S./Mexico border.
"We came to YPG because it's a great place to do this kind of work, with great support," said David Jackson, DRS Technologies vice president for development of border and force protection systems. "We had two options of places to go, both in Arizona, and we chose the obvious best candidate."
A site on the Barry M. Goldwater Range was the other location considered, but it is completely unimproved and would require DRS to bring in or rent everything. "Coming to Yuma Proving Ground cost us more, but the facilities and support we get have always been phenomenal," he said. "That's why we keep coming back and plan to return in the future."
According to Jackson, the terrain at YPG well simulates desert conditions in Jordan and along much of the southern border of the United States. In the demonstration that occurred in early 2007, even camels and burros participated in the realistic exercises.
The scenario this year was geared around detecting and engaging vehicles or people (YPG employees, in actuality) in the targeted area. "We identify and track them with our sensors," explained Jackson, "and we classify them as hostile, friendly or neutral." Once the classification is complete, a vehicle is sent out to intercept the person, group or object, if necessary. System software is highly refined, allowing it to discriminate between animals, local farmers or other passersby of no concern.
Steve Dunlap, head of business development for Crane Wireless Monitoring Solutions, a system subcontractor, provides the unattended ground sensors so important to the effectiveness of the overall system. Only three inches wide and rising about one-half inch above the ground once installed, the tan-colored ground sensors detect passers-by based on seismic waves in the ground which are then deciphered by computers. "The results are reliable and we're quite proud of them," says Dunlap.
"The DRS system is effective, deployable and ready-to-go," observed Jeffrey Hicks of 21st Century Systems, which developed and integrated all system software. "That's why we're here and what we want people to see."
Tommy Gwynn, Sensor Team Lead in YPG's Aviation Systems Branch, said the activity was complex and a technical challenge, but in a good way. "This was different from many of our other projects," he said, "We mainly focus strictly on planning, executing and reporting on specific tests, not demonstrations. This gave us the opportunity to showcase our expertise to new potential customers."
Test officer Walter Aims, a 13 year YPG employee, agrees. "We strived to meet or exceed what the customer desired," he said. "There were peaks and valleys, just like always, but every problem was solved in short order."
But it all came down to the opinion of the customer, who pays the bills. What did DRS Technologies think?
"The support we received at Yuma Proving Ground was absolutely phenomenal," said Jackson. "There's an all-star team out here." These are not idle words. DRS Technologies plans to return later this year for a new round of testing. Reprinted with permission from Yuma Proving Ground.
