Terra Acoustics Inc. Overview Value Proposition

Terra Acoustics Inc.
Confidential
Terra Acoustics Inc. Overview
Value Proposition
Terra Acoustics Inc. was formed to develop a unique mobile platform for detecting shallow buried IED's
(Improvised Explosive Devices).
The goal is the development of a system with the capability to detect remote shallow subterranean objects
as small as 30 cm, at ranges of 50-100 m, and at vehicle movement speeds of up to 50 km/hr.
The intent will be to sell these systems to governments worldwide for military applications requiring subterranean object identification (i.e. locating IED’s, unexploded ordinance (UXO’s), and land mines). Although
not the primary focus, secondary applications, such as buried municipal infrastructure location and identification, site geotechnical engineering and archaeological uses, can also be considered.
The company intellectual property is captured in the Seismic-Acoustic Detection and Ranging (SADARTM)
concept is based on a seismic-acoustic phased-array transmitter and receiver system. Non surface contact seismic-acoustic transmitters and receivers are arranged in a 4 x 16 array to enable aiming of an
acoustic beam with lateral range of 50 m and depth of 2 m (see concept diagram in Fig. 1). This beam will
be capable of producing a scanned cross-sectional road bed image 20 m wide x 2 m deep. A previously
scanned road bed data map stored in memory will then be used for delta comparison to identify introduction of buried objects, or simply target objects of interest for further investigation.
Figure 1: Concept Drawing of the SADARTM System
Market Information
Initial investigation into the market for counter-IED efforts shows total market size of approximately $6B, as shown
in Figure 2.
http://www.homelandsecurityresearch.com/2007/07/global-counter-ied-markets-technologies-forecast-20082012/
Terra Acoustics Inc. Overview 02-2010 Page 1
Terra Acoustics Inc.
Confidential
Figure 2: Counter-IED Market Size
Competition
Although we are not aware of the use of a SADARTM type technology, a competitive landscape investigation for mobile Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) IED detection equipment has identified three major
players in the buried IED detection market:
1. Niitek HMDS Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) system: (Virginia, USA)
• Web site: http://www.niitek.com/husky.php
2. 3D_Radar (a Curtiss Wright Company) GPR system: (Klæbuveien, Norway)
• Web site: http://www.3d-radar.com/applications/military?gclid=CO2tmKGazJ4CFdA65QodFRg-rw
3. MBDA Inc. Souvrim 2 mechanical decoy system (EADS - Europe/BAE - UK/Finmeccanica - Italy)
• Web site: http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/ref/scripts/EN_Souvim_163.html
Company status (Jan 2010)
•
Expressed interest from the Canadian Forces Counter IED Task Force and Defense Research and
Development Canada (DRDC) but unable to fund seed predevelopment work (Oct 2009).
•
System is at proof of concept stage.
•
Actively forming and the defining company, securing IP, reviewing & refining the concept with
industry experts, arranging university/college partnerships, securing government assistance funding and
looking for key investment from a select investor.
•
Three founders with expertise in engineering physics, electrical engineering and mechanical
engineering joined by three initial resources with expertise in business operations, manufacturing and
digital signal processing. All have business start up experience.
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