Mineseye MK II
New ways of mine detection
MgM is part of an ambitious development project of the European Union (EU). Mineseye is the name of a mine detection utility which is meant to combine two high-tech detection methods. A digital metal detector sweeps the ground for metal parts in a highly sensitive fashion and draws a digital facsimile of the found object. When the suspect object could be serious, it gets examined further by being bombarded with a neutron ray from a second detector. The “echo” reflected by the found object will give clues to the type and construction of any explosive present.
Subjecting the found objects to the rays only takes nano-seconds, analyzing the computer data takes a few minutes.
The combination of the two high-tech sensors promises precise results in a shortest of time, unlike all other current detection procedures.
In december 2002 both of the two new detector technologies were undergoing a first Proof of Concept / evaluation in Namibia and Angola. The aim was to find out possibilities to improve design, function and interface of the prototypes for the series of tests which are planned to take place in february 2003 in the MgM detector testfield in Ondjiva, Angola.
See a picture gallery of the preliminary Roll out.
Remote control and data transmission
Since the detection technology is mounted on a remote controlled and all-terrain carrier vehicle it is instantly safer for the operating personnel than any other method.
MgM advises the scientific team on all questions concerning the practical applications of the new technology in real mined-area scenarios and in field tests conducted under realistic circumstances.
The general objectives are:
to improve the performance of a metal detector for working in soil environment that current metal sensors have difficulties;
to provide a man-portable APL detector with demonstrable advances in operational parameters by the integration of the improved metal detector with a chemical analyzing sensor based on nuclear technique for bulk explosive detection; and
to investigate the performance of the component system on a mobile vehicle platform.
These general objectives will lead to the development of MINESEYE - a system which provides rapid search with a Digital Induction Pulse Sensor (DIPS) with data processing capability to locate a buried metallic object among soils that might be magnetic or conducting, and then uses a Pulse Neutron Chemical Analysis Sensor (PNCAS) to detect and confirm the presence or absence of explosive substances at the location in question.
The goal is that every positive detected by the combined system should be a real positive.
Development of mineseye
MINESEYE will lead to a demining system which is fairly simple to deploy and to maintain, yet could enhance the detection capability of the currently established metal detector, while reducing the number of false positives generated by such a detector with improved sensitivities.
The ability to confirm the presence or absence of explosives under a suspect location first identified by a metal detector will reduce significantly the time required for manual confirmation.
It will take much less time to carry out the detect and confirm operation with the MINESEYE system, but a longer time to unearth a suspected object for inspection. The saving in time using the 2 sensors Scan and Detect methodology can be estimated to be more than a factor of 10.
The project team is composed of 3 SMEs (FR,UK,RO), 1 research institute (FR) and 1 end-user (DE / MgM People Against Landmines). MgM has active demining programmes in Angola, Namibia and Mozambique and their involvement from the beginning is expected to lead to a demand driven solution with due consideration for cost and benefits.
Project objectives
To develop the components for an improved mine detection unit for Humanitarian Demining based on 2 advanced sensors
a digital induction pulse sensor, DIPS
a pulse neutron chemical analysis sensor, PNCAS
to develop & validate the MINESEYE system using a combined parallel approach. DIPS to search & locate and PNCAS to detect & confirm landmines.
Current activities
MINESEYE - Platypus I
hardware integration
development of man-machine interface
DIPS
ruggedization
electronics integration
software optimization & automation
PNCAS
development of fieldable unit
performance optimization
TECHNOLOGY
DIPS
Objectives
to provide better object identification capability
to reduce false alarm rate as a search and locate instrument
to assess optimal data output for automated scanning system
Implementation
full digital control induction sensor
with on-board data processing
The PNCAS may have a longer way to a man carried detection tool. But it can be already a useful tool for a carrier like the MAXX in the near future.
PNCAS
Objectives
to provide a field portable chemical analysis tool for detection of buried explosives
to significantly reduce the false alarm rate as a detect and confirm instrument in Humanitarian Demining
Implementation
pulsed fast neutron activation analysis
based on TINA
TINA
Tomographic Interrogation by Neutron Activation
THE PARTNERSHIP
EPPRA sas
X-Technologies
John Caunt Scientific Ltd
MgM (People Against Landmines)
INOE
