Scientists at MIT Lincoln Laboratory have developed a throwable sensor, about the size of a baseball, that can detect hazardous vapors and aerosols from a distance. This device, named the Tactical Optical Spherical Sensor for Interrogating Threats (TOSSIT), is intended to warn military personnel, first responders, and police about chemical dangers such as nerve and blister agents, industrial chemical spills, or fentanyl dust.<\/p>\n
Users can deploy TOSSIT by throwing it, using a drone, or launching it into a potentially dangerous area. The sensor examines the air and utilizes an internal camera to monitor color alterations on a removable dye card to identify chemicals. If it detects certain substances, TOSSIT sends notifications through an app or triggers alarms on the sensor itself.<\/p>\n
“TOSSIT addresses an unmet need by offering a cost-effective sensing solution for vapors and solid aerosol threats \u2014 like toxic dust particles \u2014 which smaller deployed sensor systems typically cannot detect,” states Richard Kingsborough, the principal investigator. Following comprehensive field testing, the technology is being handed over to the U.S. military.<\/p>\n