The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity will award up to $50,000 in cash prizes under a new competition that will seek algorithms designed to predict changes in a chemical’s infrared spectrum depending on the surface where it is deposited.
IARPA’s Modeling of Reflectance Given Only Transmission of High-concentration Spectra for Chemical Recognition Over Widely-varying eNvironments challenge aims to encourage the development of models to determine how the bulk spectrum of a chemical will react to a molecular environment, The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Friday.
The contest is open to industry, government and academic communities.
ODNI noted that tools designed to detect and identify trace chemicals can aid counterterrorism, quality control and security operations.
IARPA will offer spectra of a set of bulk chemicals and surfaces to help participants develop an algorithm that can determine the spectra of remaining combinations of chemicals and surfaces as part of the MORGOTH’S CROWN challenge.
MORGOTH’S CROWN will run through August and supports the agency’s Standoff ILluminator for Measuring Absorbance and Reflectance Infrared Light Signatures program.
