Demine Robotics wanted a safer and faster way to clear the 60 to 100 million landmines left in the world. In response, they built an unmanned excavation robot prototype that makes demining safer and faster.
Currently, methods to clear up landmines in war-stricken countries is a major feat, since many are hidden in farmlands, school paths, and other areas. They also require the manual detection of metal detectors and trained animals to detect explosives, which is followed by mechanical clearance.
Dubbed Jevit, the robot’s demining process consists of three steps: detection, excavation, and detonation. Jevit’s blast process is protected by metal plating, and can be used as a platform for multiple detection equipment and robotic manipulators.
The remote piloted system is deployed after detection of suspected buried munitions, and then Jevit is remotely operated to excavate the landmine, UXO, and IEDS. This is all done from a distance of 300 m.
Jevit’s excavating mechanism digs into the earth beside and underneath the explosive with three individually rotating augers, which then lifts the explosive. The mechanism can power through any terrain and operate in an array of operating conditions.
The explosive is then lifted and can be disposed through controlled detonation. Compared to manual demining, Jevit takes approximately 60 seconds to dig up an underground landmine and bring it to the top for disposal.
Demine Robotics hopes their affordable and fast solution can save lives, eliminate risk with manual excavation, and unearth a new type of freedom to land that’s scattered with mines.
Filed Under: Product design, Robotics • robotic grippers • end effectors
