Laser probe for underground landmine discrimination and neutralization

Fabrice Lacroix; Bernard Gautier; R. Vallee

doi:10.1117/12.597620

10 June 2005 Laser probe for underground landmine discrimination and neutralization

Fabrice Lacroix, Bernard Gautier, R. Vallee

Proceedings Volume 5794, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets X; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.597620
Event: Defense and Security, 2005, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

There are three steps to performing landmine clearing operations. Mine disposal experts first detect suspect devices, discriminate the objects, and finally neutralize the landmines. Can lasers be useful in accelerating and perhaps even improving this process? They can obviously be used for direct radiation of surface landmines. We tested it successfully on five different types of landmine. For underground landmines, it is inefficient; laser energy is wasted in heating the ground, and is not applied to destroying the mine. After consideration of the traditional method for clearing landmines, it was concluded that the use of mechanical probes could provide a feasible solution to bring a laser beam directly to the mine. Since mechanical probes are in contact with the mine, they could be equipped with an optical fiber that can deliver the laser to the mine and destroy it without having to dig it out. In one single step the mine could be burned right after it is located, reducing the duration and risk of the operation and preventing its terrorist reuse. The idea of an "optical laser probe" was pushed further and a single low-cost probe was designed and patented. The investigation of hyperspectral discrimination for underground objects based on an adaptation of our device has studied in collaboration with the COPL, Quebec. We conclude that the use of an optical probe to locate a suspect object, discriminate and destroy it in the same operation signicantly improves the speed and security of landmine clearing operations.

Citation Download Citation

Fabrice Lacroix, Bernard Gautier, and R. Vallee "Laser probe for underground landmine discrimination and neutralization", Proc. SPIE 5794, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets X, (10 June 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.597620

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
12 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Land mines

Mining

Explosives

Metals

Optical fibers

Combustion

Laser irradiation

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years