Lean robotics for humanitarian mine sweeping

Abstract

The robot mine clearing, based on cheap farming equipment, aims at transforming the terrorist antipersonnel mine into useless practice, after that the land reclamation is readily fulfilled by standard means. The paper addresses the following lines: • to conceive and implement lowcost robotic equipment, assuring effective, safe and reliable demining; • to allow simple equipment integration, with resort to low-cost and widely available agricultural fixtures; • to provide the basis for on-duty assessment and training assistance by alarm (warning, emergency) effective management; • to make easier the operators groundwork, involved in self-learning and up-grading duties. The mixedmode automation, through remote-steered robotic effectors, grants balanced resources use on the strategic, tactical and execution horizons.