An optical based 
identification system that is easily deployable and can be used in broad 
daylight. Fluorescent 
semiconductor nanocrystals (
quantum dots) that fluoresce at specific wavelengths are distributed in a suitable 
polymer. The resulting mixture can then be applied as paint or on an 
adhesive label for application to a portion of any equipment or member of a friendly unit. The 
system also has a corresponding detectional 
processing unit which may be mounted on ordnance or on any other equipment such as aircraft. The detection unit uses a 
laser, which when active, causes a 
laser beam to strike the paint or 
adhesive able applied to the friendly unit. This causes the 
quantum dots to fluoresce. The 
fluorescence of the 
quantum dots can be detected by the sensor portion of the detection / 
processing unit. The sensor portion then transmits the data generated by the detected 
fluorescence to a 
data processing portion detection / 
processing unit such as a corresponding 
signal to the 
equipment operator or, if the unit is mounted on ordnance that has been launched to the warhead to deactivate the warhead. To overcome the effects of broad 
daylight on an optical 
system, the quantum dots can be detected by the sensor portions of the detection / processing unit. The sensor portion then transmits the data generated by the detected 
fluorescence to a 
data processing portion which 
decodes the data. If the decoded data indicates a friendly unit, the detection / processing unit sends a corresponding 
signal to the 
equipment operator or, if the unit is mounted on ordnance that has been launched to the warhead to deactivate the warhead. To overcome the effects of broad 
daylight on an optical 
system, the quantum dots are engineered to fluoresce at wavelengths corresponding to the absorption lines of the solar spectrum, more commonly known as Fraunhofer lines.