FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RELEASE NO. 30-07

CADET FOCUSED ON COUNTER IED TECHNOLOGY- Aug. 30, 2007

WEST POINT, N.Y. – U.S. Military Academy Cadet Don Mateer Class of 2009 spent part of his summer supporting the War on Terror by working on the Improvised Explosive Device problem for the Army.

The research specifically looked at three different individual Soldier alerting techniques, visual, auditory and tactile. It showed that the best solution would be a combination of alerts. The solution is based on a simple idea, cell phones.

“Two of our recently graduated cadets, 2nd Lt.’s Dan Strathman and Brett Stroney, did some extensive experimentation on a new counter-IED technology, called ANCILE, which is currently under development by Lt. Col. Fernando Maymi in the Military Academies Information Technology Operations Center,” Mateer said. Mateer continued, “Interestingly, many people have figured this out with their cell phones and have them set to both ‘buzz’ and ring for an incoming call.”

Mateer then designed and built a physical prototype for testing. “In three days and with the support from three academy departments, I went from research, to concept, to design and finally a model I can mount on my arm,” he explained. “I am going to bring the model to Fort Hood for them to think about how it will or won’t work. I can show it to experienced combat leaders to get their input. Then I can redesign and reprint the prototype based on what I learn.”

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