Magnetic Sensors for Navigation and Security Applications

Presenter Name
Pavel Ripka

Affiliation
Institute for the Protection and the Security of the Citizen, Sensors, Radar Technologies and Cybersecurity Unit, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy, and the Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic

Photograph

Biography
Before joining the Czech Technical University as a full professor, Pavel Ripka worked at the Danish Technical University and National University of Ireland. His main research interests are Magnetic Measurements and Magnetic sensors, especially Fluxgate. He served as a consultant for several companies worldwide and headed industrial design teams. He is an author of 3 books, about 150 papers and 5 patents. He served as an Associate Editor of the IEEE Sensors Journal (2001-2005) and he was a General Chairman of Eurosensors 2002 conference. In 2005/2006 he works as a visiting researcher at the Institute for the Protection and the Security of the Citizen, European Commission Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy. 

Abstract
Magnetic sensors are key elements in many security, military, and navigation systems. Fast development of new sensor types such as AMR (Anisotropic MagnetoResistors), GMR (Giant Magneto-Resistance), SDT (Spin-Dependent Tunelling) and GMI (Giant Magneto-Impedance) brings new opportunities; but not all new is better. The purpose of this tutorial is to critically review the principles and properties of modern magnetic sensors and show how they presently are employed in navigation and security applications and what is their future potential.  

The emphasis will be given for mine and UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) location.

Principles and techniques:
- principles of DC magnetic sensors suitable for security applications (incl. AMR, GMR, SDT and miniaturized resonant and fluxgate sensors)
- eddy-current methods
- induction magnetometers
- electromagnetic methods including ELF and Ground Penetrating Radar
- imaging techniques, signal processing, recognition
- gradiometric techniques, sensor fusion
- calibration and error corrections
2. Applications
- Mine detection
- UXO location
- Detection and recognition of vehicles (incl. submersible)
- Detection frames and other sensors for border security
- Magnetic labels and anti-theft systems
- Navigation systems
- Magnetic tracking
- Distance measurement
- Distributed sensors and sensor areas

Target audience
Students (especially PhD), research staff and teachers from universities. People from relevant industry, government groups, and research institutions.