STONewsArchive: NATO scientists use drones and sensors to detect improvised explosive devices
Title:
NATO scientists use drones and sensors to detect improvised explosive devices
Start_Publishing:
05/09/2023
Panel_Page:
SCI
Page_ID:
3916
Main_Body_Multi:
Earlier this year, a team of NATO STO researchers began testing the use of sensor-equipped drones to detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as part of ongoing work to protect soldiers from what has proven to be a persistent threat on the battlefield. The team, formed under the STO Systems Concepts and Integration (SCI) Panel, carried out a field trial of the technology in June 2023 at the Defence Research and Development Canada Experimental Proving Ground in Alberta, Canada.
IEDs claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continue to play a deadly role in battle today, including in the war in Ukraine. Dismounted soldiers have traditionally used handheld detectors to search for IED themselves, often at great risk to their own safety. The SCI research team (SCI-321) sought to minimize this risk by replacing soldiers and detectors with drones and sensors.
The team equipped drones with seven different types of sensor technology – including optical systems, radar systems, and sensors that identify ground disturbances, command wires, electrical components and changes in topography. The longer-term aim is to fuse all the data from these sensors to help soldiers to identify the location of IEDs with greater certainty.
The team, composed of both scientists and military operators, tested 10 systems over the course of 4 days at the field trial in Canada. They are now analyzing the results of the trial, and plan to publish their findings in 2024.
Watch our video to learn more about the team and the field trial.
Page_Intro:
Earlier this year, a team of NATO STO researchers began testing the use of sensor-equipped drones to detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as part of ongoing work to protect soldiers from what has proven to be a persistent threat on the battlefield. The team, formed under the STO Systems Concepts and Integration (SCI) Panel, carried out a field trial of the technology in June 2023 at the Defence Research and Development Canada Experimental Proving Ground in Alberta, Canada.
HomePageImage:
2023-sci-321.png
HomePageBodyText:
Earlier this year, a team of NATO STO researchers began testing the use of sensor-equipped drones to detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as part of ongoing work to protect soldiers from what has proven to be a persistent threat on the battlefield. The team, formed under the STO Systems Concepts and Integration (SCI) Panel, carried out a field trial of the technology in June 2023 at the Defence Research and Development Canada Experimental Proving Ground in Alberta, Canada.
IEDs claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continue to play a deadly role in battle today, including in the war in Ukraine. Dismounted soldiers have traditionally used handheld detectors to search for IED themselves, often at great risk to their own safety. The SCI research team (SCI-321) sought to minimize this risk by replacing soldiers and detectors with drones and sensors.
The team equipped drones with seven different types of sensor technology – including optical systems, radar systems, and sensors that identify ground disturbances, command wires, electrical components and changes in topography. The longer-term aim is to fuse all the data from these sensors to help soldiers to identify the location of IEDs with greater certainty.
The team, composed of both scientists and military operators, tested 10 systems over the course of 4 days at the field trial in Canada. They are now analyzing the results of the trial, and plan to publish their findings in 2024.
Watch our video
here
to learn more about the team and the field trial.
Created at 05/09/2023 16:49 by ad.rodes
Last modified at 08/09/2023 11:21 by ad.rodes
Go back to list
Home(NATO STO)