Unmanned Ground Vehicle Equipped with Ground Penetrating Radar for Improvised Explosives Detection

Abstract

The article presents some objectives and results of the European Defense Agency Program on: Improvised Explosive Devices Detection (IEDDET Program)[1]. The goal of the article is to describe the work, results and recommendations regarding Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) - contributions within the MUSICODE project. Its scope and goals were presented, which are in line with the objectives of the IEDDET Program taking into consideration that the recommendations (for UGV and GPR) are related to the goals, not the results of MUSICODE project. There were described scenarios and the resulting changes in the structure implemented in the UGV - the FLORIAN robot which served as a sensors carrier including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The main focus of the article is to find the answer to the research question: what is an impact of using the GPR to be mounted on the UGV to detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the UGV construction and the GPR results. The structure of this radar was described and examples of tests results were presented. The summary presents recommendations for the construction of an unmanned land platform to carry sensors used in the work carried out in the MUSICODE project and conclusions regarding GPR, resulting from the experiences gained under the IEDDET Program.