Demining Robots: Overview and Mission Strategy for Landmine Identification in the Field

Abstract

We present an overview of a system under development, with NATO funding, wherein a team of robots uses multiple sensors to identify and characterize buried landmines or other explosive threats. Two of these sensors are ground penetrating radars (GPRs). One is an ultra-wideband impulse radar and the other is a continuous wave holographic subsurface imaging radar. In an earlier phase of the project, these sensors were successfully tested using a prototype robot on which both GPRs were mounted. The separate robots are connected via a central unit with shared data and communication. We describe the planned strategy using these two key sensors and others to automatically navigate and efficiently survey a minefield. With this novel approach, and with tripwire detection enabled on the first robot, the complex task of threat detection will be automatic and rendered completely safe for the operator. The risk of unexpected blasts from undetected tripwires or triggered pressure plates will also be mitigated.