Mobile robotic system for detection and location of antipersonnel land mines: field tests

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results obtained in the field tests of a new system for detection and location of antipersonnel land mines.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents briefly the overall system and then it focuses on the description and analysis of the results obtained in three basic experiments: accuracy for following trajectories, mine detection and capability for walking over landmines.

Findings

The paper finds that the system has been assessed positively for this specific application because it satisfies the initial system requirements.

Research limitations/implications

The research and experiments have been focused on irregular terrain with low vegetation and free from obstacles. Further research will be focused on the complete coverage of a terrain including large vegetation and obstacles.

Practical implications

This paper presents practical results for a very well defined application: humanitarian de‐mining. However, many of the results related with robot location, following of trajectories and general control techniques are applicable to any mobile robot for outdoor applications in general.

Originality/value

This paper is the first work (to the best author's knowledge) reporting experimental features of a walking system for humanitarian de‐mining. The paper does not only report on the mobile platform, but also on the scanning manipulator and sensor head features.

Citation

Cobano, J.A., Ponticelli, R. and Gonzalez de Santos, P. (2008), "Mobile robotic system for detection and location of antipersonnel land mines: field tests", Industrial Robot, Vol. 35 No. 6, pp. 520-527. https://doi.org/10.1108/01439910810909510