At the 15th meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Joint Working Group on Cooperation in Science and Environment, which took place in early July in Kiev, a working prototype of a 3D mine detector was demonstrated, which has no analogues in the world. The tool will detect under the ground devices made not only of iron, but also of plastic, display their images on the screen and compare with the existing objects in the database. The development of a 3D mine detector is jointly operated by scientists and designers of the Igor Sikorsky KPI, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and UARPA in the framework of the NATO Program "Science for Peace and Security".
The mine detector is based on a 5 by 5 mm chip that is developed in accordance with the original technology. This gives the device the advantage in size and compactness. It will be manual, easy and it will work even on batteries.
The project uses completely new signals, not used in the location before, and special antennas. Thanks to this, the sensitivity of the receivers is increased: they will detect objects at a depth of up to half a meter and identify mines and explosive devices not only from iron, but also from plastic – this does not perform any of the existing mine detectors.
The software will allow the mine detector to reproduce a three-dimensional image of the found object and bring it to the screen. In addition, the corresponding software will allow the device to compare the information it receives with the database. All these characteristics today are not found in any mine detector in the world. Therefore, even at this stage, the developers highly appreciate the prospects for serial production of the device, noting that its price will be on the same level with similar mine detectors.
The Deputy Secretary General of NATO on New Security Challenges, Sorin Dukaru, highly appreciated the work of the scientists: "As an engineer, I know how much effort it takes to make such a large, unique project out of a small detail. The development of such a mine detector is not only a reaction to urgent needs of Ukraine, it will be in high demand in many places all over the world. "