PRODRONE, a Japanese company, conducted field tests of an unmanned mine-detection drone in Kyiv, Ukraine. With funding from UNIDO, the project evaluated the technology as a way to accelerate the clearance of areas where landmines and unexploded ordnance remain across wide regions.
The tests were conducted in Kyiv, Ukraine, where PRODRONE demonstrated technology for detecting landmines from the air. Estimates by Ukrainian government officials indicate that landmines and unexploded ordnance may remain across extensive areas. The technology was evaluated as part of a project funded by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
For the tests, landmines that had been recovered in advance were used. Some were placed on the surface, while others were buried at a depth of approximately 15 centimeters. The unmanned drone, equipped with a metal detector, flew at a low altitude of approximately 30 centimeters above the ground to assess the effectiveness of explosive detection under various conditions. The organizers said they hoped the technology would lead to solutions to the disruption that landmines are causing to people’s daily lives.
Similar systems for humanitarian mine clearance are expected to be developed in the future. On the Ukrainian side, the technology could help improve civilian safety and accelerate the clearance of affected areas. It is also expected to be used in disaster prevention and emergency response operations.