Our Project

To test the reliability of Unmanned Aircraft Systems equipped with advanced imaging systems for detecting unexploded ordinance in the field, we will explore a variety of conditions and how they may affect the detection ability. We plan to simulate landmine casings of four different materials, three common materials, plastic, aluminum, and steel, and one uncommon material, clay. In addition, we each material will be simulated in three different sizes, two inches, six inches, and twelve inches. This simulates sizes of mines ranging from anti-personnel to anti-tank varieties. Each of these materials and sizes will be tested both above ground and at a depth of six inches, common placements of landmines. We will have two testing areas, one kept clean to simulate newly laid landmines, and one allowed to become overgrown to simulate how time may affect detection capabilities.

For each test, we will measure a variety of variables and explore how these variables may have affected any changes in our detection capabilities. These variables include High and Low and current temperatures of the day, humidity, wind speed, UV index, soil saturation, grass height, as well as flight speed and altitude.

By testing these various conditions, we hope to determine the reliability of using Unmanned Aircraft Systems with advanced imaging systems for detecting unexploded ordinance and perhaps, create a standard operating procedure for future use.