Technology helps US soldiers see through the ground when detecting mines
The Pentagon is developing technology that would allow soldiers to see buried explosives in an effort to reduce casualties from landmines.
| Visual mine detection technology during testing. |
The US Army is researching special technology that would allow soldiers to see through the ground and detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs), instead of just being alerted by the beeping of a mine detector,Defence Talkreport
The technology uses a sensor attached to a handheld mine detector. When the sensor scans an IED buried underground, it displays it on a helmet-mounted display or mine detector in real time. This allows soldiers to easily determine the location, shape, and size of mines, instead of just their approximate location when using a conventional detector.
"You can see the shape and possibly the size of the object. It helps the soldier react faster," said Christopher Marshall, an expert with the Bomb Disposal Division of the US Army's Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Council.
Information about cleared areas and the location of IEDs is sent back to headquarters, eliminating the need for marking posts. The data is also able to detect signs of fatigue in minesweepers, which can cause them to miss areas.
If the technology is successfully developed, US scientists plan to install the search device on a mine-detecting robot, and the signal will be sent to a nearby command vehicle. "The idea is to apply the fully developed technology to robots. Soldiers will no longer need to detect mines themselves, which will be much safer," Mr. Marshall said.
