Anti-tank Landmines Research Articles

LANDMINE DETECTOR AND SURVEILLANCE ROBOT

Landmines and different explosives are set in war fields and other populated places which causes wounds and once in a while death to people as well as property misfortune. There are different kinds of landmines, for example, Anti-tank landmines and people killing landmines. Antitank landmines and some of the people killing landmines are in metal casing so these landmines can be identified by utilizing metal finders. These landmines must be moved for dispersion utilizing mechanical arms. For recognizing the landmine, without human obstruction, the automated remote controlled ground vehicle with appended mechanical arm design model is proposed in this paper. This model consists of a spy-cam and an ESP sensor as well as a sound buzzer along with a microprocessor that detects the landmine and also spy on enemy territory. Key Words: ESP, SPY-CAM, Automated remote control, Sound buzzer, Metal finder, Microprocessor

Development of an Airborne-Based GPR System for Landmine and IED Detection: Antenna Analysis and Intercomparison

Airborne-based Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) systems have proved to be an efficient solution for safe and accurate detection of buried threats such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines. The design of these prototypes is influenced by several parameters such as the working frequency band or the maximum weight and size of the payload to be placed on board the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). In this sense, one of the main bottlenecks found in the design of these systems is the proper selection of the GPR antenna. This contribution focuses on the analysis of different Ultra Wideband (UWB) Vivaldi antennas and their performance in the context of an airborne-based GPR system. First, the Vivaldi antennas are characterized in terms of $S_{11}$ , radiation pattern, directivity, and phase center. Next, they are placed on board the implemented airborne-based GPR prototype to assess their impact on the detection capabilities of the system. In addition, other criteria such as the weight and size of the antennas are considered to make the final selection. Finally, the selected UWB Vivaldi antennas are tested in a realistic scenario.

Investigation of Hybrid Locomotive Robot for Anti-Personnel Mine Detection

Most of landmine detection robots proposed so far have been strongly restricted from locomotion inside the mine field because they cannot cross over the mine. So we have proposed a mine detection robot with hybrid locomotion, which can enter inside the minefield with low ground surface contact, which can cross over the mine instead of changing its path and scan landmines directly using Electro Magnetic Induction sensor. The hybrid locomotion proposed in the robot uses the frame walking technique and the conventional wheeled locomotion. The robot switches over the locomotion mechanism from wheeled to leg when mine is detected and vice versa with a lead screw mechanism. The leg locomotion is achieved by frame walking technique where the two frames translate with the help of lead screw mechanism. A purpose of adopting this combination is to evade anti-personnel landmines which are relatively smaller in comparison to their anti-tank landmine counterparts. The robot initially starts in wheeled mode and upon detection of metal, pulls in the frame walking algorithm. The robot also deploys an obstacle avoidance algorithm when working in wheel mode.

Underbody blast effect on the pelvis and lumbar spine: A computational study.

Explosion from an anti-tank landmine under a military vehicle, known as underbody blast (UBB), may cause severe injury or even death for the occupants inside the vehicle. Severity and patterns of lower extremity, pelvis and lumbar spine injuries subjected to UBB have been found highly related to loading conditions, i.e. the vertical acceleration pulse. A computational human model has been developed and successfully simulated the tibia fracture under UBB in the previous study. In the present study, it was further improved by building a detailed lumbar spine and pelvis model with high biofidelity. The newly developed pelvis and lumbar spine were validated against component level test data in the literature. Then, the whole body model was validated with the published cadaver sled test data. Using the validated whole body model, parametric studies were conducted by adjusting the peak acceleration and time duration of pulses produced in the UBB to investigate the effect of waveform on the injury response. The critical values of these two parameters for pelvis and lumbar spine fracture were determined, and the relationship between injury pattern and loading conditions was established.

The importance of tuning curves and two-tone tests in nonlinear acoustic landmine detection

During the 1990s through ∼2010, Jim Sabatier’s group (Univ. Mississippi and NCPA) had made significant progress in understanding airborne acoustic landmine detection. In particular, using their development of scanning laser Doppler vibrometry, plastic anti-tank landmines could be detected in soil along roadbeds. Research on the nonlinear acoustic detection of buried landmines by Dimitry Donskoy (Stevens Tech) lead to lumped element models of the target which included a nonlinear spring-like mechanism. Tom Muir studied seismic excitations. Sabatier and Korman suggested that the soil nonlinearity and the soil interaction with the flexural vibration of the top-plate of the landmine or drum-like simulant were both significant factors in nonlinear landmine detection. Nonlinear tuning curves of the soil vibration response vs. frequency (directly over the target) along with rich combination frequency generation in two-tone tests suggested that the vibration was similar to Paul Johnson’s group results on mesoscopic nonlinear elasticity found in geomaterials. Recent airborne acoustic nonlinear landmine detection experiments compare drum-like simulant tuning curves to results using a soil plate oscillator apparatus (two circular flanges sandwiching and clamping a thin circular elastic plate that supports a cylindrical level column of sand above the plate) to help model flexural mesoscopic nonlinear hysteretic behavior.

Smart Manoeuvring in Mobile Robot for Anti-Personnel IED Detection

Most of landmine detection robots proposed so far have been strongly restricted from locomotion inside the minefield because they cannot cross over the mine. So we have proposed a mine detection robot with hybrid locomotion, which can enter minefield with low ground surface contact, which can cross over the mine instead of changing its path and scan landmines directly using EMI (Electro Magnetic Induction) sensor. The hybrid locomotion proposed in the robot uses the frame walking technique and the conventional wheeled locomotion. The robot switches over the locomotion mechanism from wheeled to leg when mine is detected and vice versa with a lead screw mechanism. The leg locomotion is achieved by frame walking technique where the two frames translate with the help of lead screw mechanism. Very purpose of adopting this combination is to evade anti-personnel landmines which are relatively smaller in comparison to their anti-tank landmine counterparts. With frame walking the robot passes over the mine instead of going around the mine. The robot initially starts in wheeled mode and upon detection of metal, pulls in the frame walking algorithm. The robot also deploys a obstacle avoidance algorithm when working in wheeled mode.

Feasibility of fast neutron analysis for the detection of explosives buried in soil

Abstract A commercialized thermal neutron analysis (TNA) sensor has been developed to confirm the presence of buried bulk explosives as part of a multi-sensor anti-tank landmine detection system. Continuing improvements to the TNA system have included the use of an electronic pulsed neutron generator that offers the possibility of applying fast neutron analysis (FNA) methods to improve the system's detection capability. This paper describes an investigation into the use of FNA as a complementary component in such a TNA system. The results of a modeling study using simple geometries and a full model of the TNA sensor head are presented, as well as preliminary results from an experimental associated particle imaging (API) system that supports the modeling study results. The investigation has concluded that the pulsed beam FNA approach would not improve the detection performance of a TNA system for landmine or buried IED detection in a confirmation role, and could not be made into a practical stand-alone detection system for buried anti-tank landmines. Detection of buried landmines and IEDs by FNA remains a possibility, however, through the use of the API technique.

Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry for the sensitive and rapid real-time detection of solid high explosives in air and water

Relying on recent developments in proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), we demonstrate here the capability of detecting solid explosives in air and in water in real time. Two different proton transfer reaction mass spectrometers have been used in this study. One is the PTR-TOF 8000, which has an enhanced mass resolution (m/Δm up to 8,000) and high sensitivity (~50 cps/ppbv). The second is the high-sensitivity PTR-MS, which has an improved limit of detection of about several hundreds of parts per quadrillion by volume and is coupled with a direct aqueous injection device. These instruments have been successfully used to identify and monitor the solid explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by analysing on the one hand the headspace above small quantities of samples at room temperature and from trace quantities not visible to the naked eye placed on surfaces (also demonstrating the usefulness of a simple pre-concentration and thermal desorption technique) and by analysing on the other hand trace compounds in water down to a level of about 100 pptw. The ability to identify even minute amounts of threat compounds, such as explosives, particularly within a complex chemical environment, is vital to the fight against crime and terrorism and is of paramount importance for the appraisal of the fate and harmful effects of TNT at marine ammunition dumping sites and the detection of buried antipersonnel and antitank landmines.

An evaluation of several fusion algorithms for anti-tank landmine detection and discrimination

Many algorithms have been proposed for detecting anti-tank landmines and discriminating between mines and clutter objects using data generated by a ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensor. Our extensive testing of some of these algorithms has indicated that their performances are strongly dependent upon a variety of factors that are correlated with geographical and environmental conditions. It is typically the case that one algorithm may perform well in one setting and not so well in another. Thus, fusion methods that take advantage of the stronger algorithms for a given setting without suffering from the effects of weaker algorithms in the same setting are needed to improve the robustness of the detection system. In this paper, we discuss, test, and compare seven different fusion methods: Bayesian, distance-based, Dempster–Shafer, Borda count, decision template, Choquet integral, and context-dependent fusion. We present the results of a cross validation experiment that uses a diverse data set together with results of eight detection and discrimination algorithms. These algorithms are the top ranked algorithms after extensive testing. The data set was acquired from multiple collections from four outdoor sites at different locations using the NIITEK GPR system. This collection covers over 41,807 m 2 of ground and includes 1593 anti-tank mine encounters.

Five-axis scanning laser vibrometry for three-dimensional measurements of non-planar surfaces

A novel system for directing the beam of a single-point laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) to measure three-dimensional velocity components of non-planar targets has been developed. A description of this measurement system is presented, along with a discussion of relative merits as compared with conventional scanning LDV systems. Two data sets are presented. In the first, sample measurements of a bulk solid are compared with an analytic model as verification of the measurement technique. In the second, measurements of the surface of sand over a buried anti-tank landmine are presented as a demonstration of the full capability of the system.

MS05 EFFECT OF LANDMINES AND UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE ON CHILDREN VERSUS ADULTS OF CAMBODIA

Aim of these study is to compare the impact of explosive remnants of war on children as compared to adults. Methods: Consecutive series of patients acutely wounded by antipersonnel landmines, antitank landmines, or unexploded ordnances (UXO) treated at “EMERGENCY NGO” Surgical Centre, Cambodia. Paediatric patients (<16 years‐old) were compared to adults in terms of: female ratio, evacuation time, ordinance type, injury pattern, number of operations, transfused patients, hospitalization, mortality and residual disability. Results: From October 2003 to January 2006, 805 war wounded patients were admitted. Patients injured from more than 24 hours (n°443) or discharged against medical advice (n°8) were excluded. Among 356 included cases, 94 were children (26.4%). Females were more common among children (31.9% versus 11.8%). 61.7% of children were injured by UXO, whereas 72.1 of adults were victims of antipersonnel landmines. Antitank mines victims were uncommon in both groups. The majority of adults (49.2%) were injured to lower limbs, whereas 50.0% of children were injured to upper limbs, face, and torso. Random wounds, typical of an explosion in vicinity, were observed in 32.9% of children and 18.7% of adults. Number of transfused patients (23.0% versus 7.2%), mortality (6.3% versus 1.5%), and incidence of blindness and maimed upper limbs were higher in children compare to adults. All differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Evacuation time, number of operations, and days of hospitalization did not statistically differ. Conclusions: Following armed conflicts antitank mines, antipersonnel landmines, and UXO pose long term risks to population. Children are commonly injured and sustain the most severe injuries.

Evaluation of parametric array technology for acoustic landmine detection.

There has been interest in using the parametric array for obtaining a highly directional low frequency source in acoustic landmine detection [M. S. Korman, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 122 (2007)]. Earlier experiments used a 0.5 m commercial parametric array made up of 70 elements located 1.5 m directly over the target. The array was driven by a 110–1100 Hz swept sine audio modulated 65 kHz tone. A VS 1.6 inert plastic antitank landmine was buried 2.5 cm deep in dry sifted masonry sand in a concrete box. The laser Doppler vibrometer to microphone rms response was sufficient to measure the “on target” to “off target” contrast ratios of 20 and 3 for peaks near 850 and 1050 Hz, respectively (upon signal averaging) but missed the largest peak near 150 Hz (where the SPL was 40 dB per 20 μPa) among others. Recent “forward looking” experiments aligned the array beam axis at 30° from grazing. Sweeping from 110–210 Hz (1600 points) at 16 s/sweep and signal averaging 20 sweeps produced a contrast ratio of 10 for resonance at 148 Hz. Considerable improvement in SPL is necessary in order to make this technology practical for low frequency applications. [Work supported by ARL.]

Effects of Land Mines and Unexploded Ordnance on the Pediatric Population and Comparison with Adults in Rural Cambodia

This paper was designed to evaluate and compare the impact of explosive war remnants on children versus adults in rural Cambodia. A prospective review of trauma database from November 2003 to January 2006 of the Civilian War Victims Surgical Centre in Battambang, Cambodia, run by an Italian NGO called "EMERGENCY" was performed. Age, female ratio, time of evacuation, type of ordnance, pattern of injury, number of operations, transfused patients, hospitalization, mortality, and residual disability were registered and compared. A total of 356 patients acutely wounded by antipersonnel land mines, antitank land mines, or unexploded ordnances (UXO) were admitted. Among these, 94 (26.4%) were children (younger than aged 16 years). Females were more common among children than adults (31.9% vs. 11.8%); 61.7% of children were injured by UXO, whereas 72.1% of adults were victims of antipersonnel land mines. Antitank mines victims were uncommon in both groups. The majority of adults (49.2%) were injured to lower limbs, whereas 50% of children were injured to upper limbs, face, and torso. Random wounds, typical of an explosion in vicinity, were observed in 32.9% of children and 18.7% of adults. All differences were statistically significant (P < 0.005). Time of evacuation, number of operations, and hospitalization did not statistically differ among groups. Number of transfused patients (23% vs. 7.2%), mortality (6.3% vs. 1.5%), incidence of blindness (21.2% vs. 9.5%), and maimed upper limbs (23.3% vs. 8.8%) were significantly higher in children compared with adults (P < 0.05). Long after ceasefire, antitank mines, antipersonnel land mines, and UXO continue to injure and kill civilians. Children are commonly injured and sustain more severe injuries.

English

Large quantity of explosive is manufactured worldwide for use in various types of ammunition,arms, and mines, and used in armed conflicts. During manufacturing and usage of the explosiveequipment, some of the explosive residues are released into the environment in the form ofcontaminated effluents, unburnt explosives fumes and vapours. Limited but uncontrolledcontinuous release of trace vapours also takes place when explosive-laden landmines are deployedin the field. One of the major technological challenges in post-war scenario worldwide is thedetection of landmines using these trace vapour signatures and neutralising them safely. Differenttypes of explosives are utilised as the main charge in antipersonnel and antitank landmines. Inthis paper, an effort has been made to review the techniques so far available based on explosivevapour detection especially to detect the landmines. A comprehensive compilation of relevantinformation on the techniques is presented, and their maturity levels, shortcomings, and difficultiesfaced are highlighted.

Texture Features for Antitank Landmine Detection Using Ground Penetrating Radar

In this paper, we consider the application of texture features for antitank landmine detection in ground- penetrating-radar data in the difficult scenario of very high clutter environments. In particular, we develop a technique for 3-D texture feature extraction, and we compare the results for landmine/clutter discrimination using classifiers that are built on 3-D as well as on 2-D texture feature sets. Our results indicate performance improvements across several different challenging testing scenarios when using the relevance-vector-machine classifiers that are trained on our 3-D feature sets as compared to the performance using the 2-D texture feature sets.

A militarily fielded thermal neutron activation sensor for landmine detection

The Canadian Department of National Defence has developed a teleoperated, vehicle-mounted, multi-sensor system to detect anti-tank landmines on roads and tracks in peacekeeping operations. A key part of the system is a thermal neutron activation (TNA) sensor which is placed above a suspect location to within a 30 cm radius and confirms the presence of explosives via detection of the 10.835 MeV gamma ray associated with thermal neutron capture on 14N. The TNA uses a 100 μ g 252Cf neutron source surrounded by four 7.62 cm × 7.62 cm NaI(Tl) detectors. The system, consisting of the TNA sensor head, including source, detectors and shielding, the high-rate, fast pulse processing electronics and the data processing methodology are described. Results of experiments to characterize detection performance are also described. The experiments have shown that anti-tank mines buried 10 cm or less can be detected in roughly a minute or less, but deeper mines and mines significantly displaced horizontally take considerably longer time. Mines as deep as 30 cm can be detected for long count times (1000 s). Four TNA detectors are now in service with the Canadian Forces as part of the four multi-sensor systems, making it the first militarily fielded TNA sensor and the first militarily fielded confirmation sensor for landmines. The ability to function well in adverse climatic conditions has been demonstrated, both in trials and operations.

Studying the mechanical behavior of a plastic, shock-resisting, antitank landmine

Modal behavior in landmines has recently become a topic of interest for acoustic landmine detection. It is well known that landmines exhibit mechanical resonance behavior that enhances the soil velocity over a buried landmine. Recent experimental work by Zagrai et al. [A. Zagrai, D. Donskoy, and A. Ekimov, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 118 (6), 3619-3628 (2005)] demonstrates the existence of structural modes in several landmines. The work reported herein parallels the work of Zagrai et al. in studying the structural modes of the pressure plate of a plastic, cylindrically symmetric, antitank landmine. The pressure plate is considered to act as an elastically supported thin elastic plate. An observed perturbation of the first symmetric mode of the pressure plate is caused by the landmine's shock-resisting mechanism. This is validated by a lumped element model for the first symmetric mode coupled to the shock-resisting mechanism.

A study of the acoustic behavior of a plastic, blast-hardened, antitank landmine

Mechanical resonances in landmines are often exploited by some acoustic-to-seismic detection schemes. As such, a study of an acoustically active landmine has been performed. Measurements of the mechanical resonances of the pressure plate reveal seven modes below 1.6 kHz and a large frequency shift of the first symmetric mode of the pressure plate, such that it occurs higher in frequency than the first asymmetric mode. The pressure plate is considered to act as an elastically supported thin plate, and the observed perturbation of the first symmetric mode is believed to be caused by the landmine’s blast-hardening mechanism. This is confirmed by a lumped acoustic element model of the system of pressure plate and blast-hardening mechanism. Mass-loading experiments in water show a decrease in resonance frequency with increasing depth that saturates at shallow depths as predicted by Velea et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 115, 1993 (2004)]. Similar mass-loading measurements in sand reveal an interesting phenomenon; flush burial of the landmine effectively removes the effect of the blast-hardening mechanism on the pressure plate. A qualitative theoretical model of this phenomenon will be presented.

Radar Detection of Buried Landmines in Field Soils

The contrast in the dielectric constant between a landmine and the surrounding soil is one of the most important parameters to be considered when using ground penetrating radar (GPR) for landmine detection. For most geologic materials the dielectric constant lies within a range of 3 to 30, with dry sand at the lower end of this range at about 3 to 5. Nonmetallic antitank landmines have dielectric constants within a range of about 3 to 10 depending on their composition. A model was developed to predict whether or not field conditions are appropriate for use of GPR instruments. The predictions of this model were validated using GPR profiles in field soils with different soil textures at various soil water contents. Model predictions and field measurements provide convincing evidence that increasing the soil water content around a nonmetallic landmine can improve detection in sand and silt soils. However, data for the clay soils suggest that under elevated soil water conditions detection of nonmetallic landmines are not improved; instead radar images in these soils become worse with increasing soil water content. Data suggest that detection of metallic landmines also degrades with increasing soil water content in sandy soils. The field data are in agreement with the model predictions. Our experimental and model results demonstrate the great potential and the pitfalls of landmine sensors based on GPR. Knowledge of soil texture, dry bulk density, and water content are necessary to determine or predict whether soil conditions are suitable or not for GPR mine detection. The model presented here can be useful for making this determination.

Radar Detection of Buried Landmines in Field Soils

The contrast in the dielectric constant between a landmine and the surrounding soil is one of the most important parameters to be considered when using ground penetrating radar (GPR) for landmine detection. For most geologic materials the dielectric constant lies within a range of 3 to 30, with dry sand at the lower end of this range at about 3 to 5. Nonmetallic antitank landmines have dielectric constants within a range of about 3 to 10 depending on their composition. A model was developed to predict whether or not field conditions are appropriate for use of GPR instruments. The predictions of this model were validated using GPR profiles in field soils with different soil textures at various soil water contents. Model predictions and field measurements provide convincing evidence that increasing the soil water content around a nonmetallic landmine can improve detection in sand and silt soils. However, data for the clay soils suggest that under elevated soil water conditions detection of nonmetallic landmines are not improved; instead radar images in these soils become worse with increasing soil water content. Data suggest that detection of metallic landmines also degrades with increasing soil water content in sandy soils. The field data are in agreement with the model predictions. Our experimental and model results demonstrate the great potential and the pitfalls of landmine sensors based on GPR. Knowledge of soil texture, dry bulk density, and water content are necessary to determine or predict whether soil conditions are suitable or not for GPR mine detection. The model presented here can be useful for making this determination.