112 research outputs found

    Guidebook on Detection Technologies and Systems for Humanitarian Demining

    Get PDF
    The aim of this publication is to provide the mine action community, and those supporting mine action, with a consolidated review and status summary of detection technologies that could be applied to humanitarian demining operations. This Guidebook is meant to provide information to a wide variety of readers. For those not familiar with the spectrum of technologies being considered for the detection of landmines and for area reduction, there is a brief overview of the principle of operation for each technology as well as a summary listing of the strengths, limitations, and potential for use of the technology to humanitarian demining. For those with an intermediate level of understanding for detection technologies, there is information regarding some of the more technical details of the system to give an expanded overview of the principles involved and hardware development that has taken place. Where possible, technical specifications for the systems are provided. For those requiring more information for a particular system, relevant publications lists and contact information are also provided

    An evaluation of the performance of multi-static handheld ground penetrating radar using full wave inversion for landmine detection

    Get PDF
    This thesis presents an empirical study comparing the ability of multi-static and bi-static, handheld, ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems, using full wave inversion (FWI), to determine the properties of buried anti-personnel (AP) landmines. A major problem associated with humanitarian demining is the occurrence of many false positives during clearance operations. Therefore, a reduction of the false alarm rate (FAR) and/or increasing the probability of detection (POD) is a key research and technical objective. Sensor fusion has emerged as a technique that promises to significantly enhance landmine detection. This study considers a handheld, combined metal detector (MD) and GPR device, and quantifies the advantages of the use of antenna arrays. During demining operations with such systems, possible targets are detected using the MD and further categorised using the GPR, possibly excluding false positives. A system using FWI imaging techniques to estimate the subsurface parameters is considered in this work.A previous study of multi-static GPR FWI used simplistic, 2D far-field propagation models, despite the targets being 3D and within the near field. This novel study uses full 3D electromagnetic (EM) wave simulation of the antenna arrays and propagation through the air and ground. Full EM simulation allows the sensitivity of radio measurements to landmine characteristics to be determined. The number and configuration of antenna elements are very important and must be optimised, contrary to the 2D sensitivity studies in (Watson, Lionheart 2014, Watson 2016) which conclude that the degree (number of elements) of the multi-static system is not critical. A novel sensitivity analysis for tilted handheld GPR antennas is used to demonstrate the positive impact of tilted antenna orientation on detection performance. A time domain GPR and A-scan data, consistent with a commercial handheld system, the MINEHOUND, is used throughout the simulated experiments which are based on synthetic GPR measurements.Finally, this thesis introduces a novel method of optimising the FWI solution through feature extraction or estimation of the internal air void typically present in pressure activated mines, to distinguish mines from non-mine targets and reduce the incidence of false positives

    Autonomous Landmine Detection Rover

    Get PDF
    Major engagements throughout modern history have left unexploded and unmarked anti-personnel landmines, which result in thousands of casualties each year. Current demi- ning detection methods use sensors such as metal detectors or trained animals such as rats. This project mitigates the threat to human life by replacing human operators with an au- tonomous robotic system. Building upon prior work, a rover was developed which locates and marks anti-personnel landmines in a user-de ned location which a separate octocopter drone will later eliminate

    Autonomous Landmine Detection Rover

    Get PDF
    Major engagements throughout modern history have left unexploded and unmarked anti-personnel landmines, which result in thousands of casualties each year. Current demining detection methods use sensors such as metal detectors or trained animals such as rats. This project mitigates the threat to human life by replacing human operators with an autonomous robotic system. Building upon prior work, a rover was developed which locates and marks anti-personnel landmines in a user- defined location which a separate octocopter drone will later eliminate

    Autonomous Landmine Detection Rover

    Get PDF
    Major engagements throughout modern history have left unexploded and unmarked anti-personnel landmines, which result in thousands of casualties each year. Current demining detection methods use sensors such as metal detectors or trained animals such as rats. This project mitigates the threat to human life by replacing human operators with an autonomous robotic system. Building upon prior work, a rover was developed which locates and marks anti-personnel landmines in a user-defined location which a separate octocopter drone will later eliminate

    Evaluation of metal detection audio alert signals of AN/PSS-14 by means of real time visualization

    Get PDF
    The sweep arm of the AN/PSS-14 Landmine Detector attached to an independent visualization device will transform the AN/PSS-14 into a hand-held data acquisition system for conversion of real time MD and GPR audio alert signals into captured visual trace displays on an on-board PDA computer screen so that momentary sounds of millisecond durations can be captured and displayed for visual scrutiny and interpretation by analytical on-board data processing procedures. This is a part of a two-man team that is developing a visual data adapter for the AN/PSS-14 Landmine Detector where the current thesis is concentrating only on MD audio alerts. The visualization device displays the amplitude-time plot and the instantaneous frequency-time plots of the MD audio alert signal for better understanding and for distinction of metallic firing pins from metallic clutter. This is achieved by the identification of the metal type, which would be common in any given landmine field and by observing the symmetric deviations of the amplitude envelope along multiple sweep directions over a buried target. The analysis of this research is constrained to only vertical firing pins. Further, analyzing the frequencies of different types of firing pin (different metal types), it can be concluded that the frequency response of the AN/PSS-14 to metallic targets are specific to metals. This process is only applicable for single, isolated MD audio signals --Abstract, page iii

    Theoretical Developments in Electromagnetic Induction Geophysics with Selected Applications in the Near Surface

    Get PDF
    Near-surface applied electromagnetic geophysics is experiencing an explosive period of growth with many innovative techniques and applications presently emergent and others certain to be forthcoming. An attempt is made here to bring together and describe some of the most notable advances. This is a difficult task since papers describing electromagnetic induction methods are widely dispersed throughout the scientific literature. The traditional topics discussed herein include modeling, inversion, heterogeneity, anisotropy, target recognition, logging, and airborne electromagnetics (EM). Several new or emerging techniques are introduced including landmine detection, biogeophysics, interferometry, shallow-water electromagnetics, radiomagnetotellurics, and airborne unexploded ordnance (UXO) discrimination. Representative case histories that illustrate the range of exciting new geoscience that has been enabled by the developing techniques are presented from important application areas such as hydrogeology, contamination, UXO and landmines, soils and agriculture, archeology, and hazards and climat

    Automated UAS Aeromagnetic Surveys to Detect MBRL Unexploded Ordnance

    Get PDF
    Unguided Multiple Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) systems are limited-accuracy, high-impact artillery systems meant to deliver barrages of explosive warheads across a wide area of attack. High rates of failure of MBRL rockets on impact and their wide area of ballistic dispersion result in a long-term unexploded ordnance (UXO) concern across large areas where these systems have been deployed. We field tested a newly-developed UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)-based aeromagnetic platform to remotely detect and identify unexploded 122 mm rockets of the widely-used BM-21 MBRL. We developed an algorithm that allows near real-time analysis, mapping, and interpretations of magnetic datasets in the field and, as a result, rapid identification of anomalies associated with both surfaced and buried MBRL items of UXO. We tested a number of sensor configurations and calibrated the system for optimal signal-to-noise data acquisition over varying site types and in varying environmental conditions. The use of automated surveying allowed us to significantly constrain the search area for UXO removal or in-place destruction. The results of our field trials conclusively demonstrated that implementation of this geophysical system significantly reduces labor and time costs associated with technical assessment of UXO-contaminated sites in post-conflict regions
    • …
    corecore