The Humanitarian Demining Program publishes reports of technical testing and operational field evaluations.
The Humanitarian Demining Program also sponsors the Research and Development section of the Journal of Mine Action to introduce new and innovative technologies for demining.
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Mechanical Clearance Reports
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Operational Evaluation Test Report on Beaver Micro-Vegetation Cutter
The Micro-Vegetation Cutter (MVC) system was tested in the late summer and early
fall of 2004 at a U.S. Army Countermine development site in central Virginia.
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Test Report of the Improved Backhoe
The objective of this test program was to evaluate the operational effectiveness of an
improved commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) JCB 215S, Series 3, four-wheel steer (4WS)
backhoe equipped with a Rotar International b.v. ROTAR, model HPL 800 S soil sifter
mounted on the front of the backhoe.
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Fact Sheet: Loader Based Demining
Fact Sheet for the Loader Baesd Demining (LDB) Project briefly describes the system with text, photographs and specifications
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Proof of Performance Test Report Mine Clearing Survivable Vehicle MANTIS
The MCSV is an armored John Deere farming tractor with mine-blast survivable
SETCO tires and a 180o rotating, armored driver’s cab. The MCSV and the tools, 2 designed
for mine clearing and 10 commercial off-the-shelf vegetation removal and site preparation tools, were procured from Pearson Engineering, Ltd, in the UK, by the NVESD HD program.
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Operational Evaluation Test of Mine Clearing Cultivator and Mine Clearing Sifter
The objective of this test program is to determine the ability of the Mine Clearing
Cultivator and Mine Clearing Sifter (MCC/MCS) to clear a minefield by bringing buried
AT and AP mines to the surface and accumulating the mines in windrows to both the left
and right of the cultivator.
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Performance Evaluation Test of the Nemesis M3
The purpose of this performance evaluation test was to determine if the Nemesis,
an off-the-shelf, self-propelled area-preparation system, and its attachments can be
operated under absolute control, at distances up to 400 m, through the use of a radiocontrolled
remote operating system.
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Performance Evaluation Test of the Peco Tracked Brush Blazer
The purpose of this performance evaluation test was to determine the capabilities of the Peco Tracked Brush Blazer TBB-2001, a self-propelled brush cutter, to cut and clear vegetation up to a classification of “difficult” in an efficient and cost-effective manner (in terms of operating and maintenance costs).
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Performance Evaluation Test of the Rapid Area Preparation Tool (RAPTOR)
The purpose of this test is to assess the performance of the Rapid Area Preparation Tool
(RAPTOR). The RAPTOR is designed to address some of the vegetation-clearing, soilpreparation,
and mine removal and neutralization problems associated with humanitarian
demining.
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Test Report Rotary Mine Comb
The Rotary Mine Comb is an innovative tool capable of gently extricating buried objects from
the soil and pushing them to the side of the path of the host vehicle. The RMCT’s two rotors,
each containing four soil-engaging tines, intermesh and counter-rotate about the vertical axes as
the vehicle travels forward.
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Performance Evaluation Test of the Orbit Screen Model 68A and the Komplet Model 48-25 Rock Crusher
At the request of the Demining Center of Ecuador, the U.S. Humanitarian Demining
Research and Development Program at Ft. Belvoir, VA., undertook a performance
evaluation of the Orbit Screen Model 68A and the Model 48-25 Rock Crusher, two
pieces of equipment that could be used to remove antipersonnel land mines from
riverbank minefields along the border of Ecuador and Peru.
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Development and Test of the Humanitarian Demining Sifting Excavator
The Humanitarian Demining Sifting Excavator has been developed to address the problem of finding and clearing deeply buried, mixed minefields. The motivation for the development came from a 2002 site assessment by the team of an existing mine problem in Honduras.
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The Severe Duty Vegetation Shredder Technical Testing of Capability
The Severe Duty Vegetation Shredder (SDVS) is designed to safely remove this obstacle to demining by opening up the general accessibility of a mined area, reducing the impediments to sweeping with hand held mine detectors, improving the deminer’s visibility of the threat, reducing the risk to the deminer by eliminating the hazardous process of going into the minefield on foot to clear brush, and by reducing the need for hauling away residual cut vegetation.
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Detection Reports
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The HALO Trust and HSTAMIDS
The Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System (HSTAMIDS) is a dual-sensor mine detector developed specifically for the U.S. military by L-3 Communications CyTerra Corporation. HSTAMIDS combines an advanced metal detector and ground-penetrating radar, allowing the user to discriminate between metal debris (clutter) and metal that has associated mass (probable mines).
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Neutralization and Tools Reports
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Proper Usage of Torch Systems for In-Situ Landmine Neutralization by Burning for Humanitarian Demining
Researchers at the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command who work with the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center as part of the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, are advancing demining beyond traditional approaches with the use of torch systems for mine neutralization. This article describes trial results for three such torches.
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Comparative Study of Different Lightweight Head Protection Systems with Full-Face Visors for Humanitarian Deminers
Currently, there is a wide range of different head and face protective devices available for the deminer, and this study attempts to perform a first evaluation of these devices from several different perspectives.
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Operational Evaluation Test of Mine Neutralization Systems
During the Fiscal Year 2003 Humanitarian Demining Research and Development
Program Requirements Refinement Workshop, expert deminers expressed a need for a costbenefit
and performance analysis for currently available deflagration (burning) and high-order
(non-explosive binary mixture) mine neutralization systems, which carry fewer shipping
restrictions compared with tradition explosives commonly used for mine neutralization. A capability demonstration of these deflagration and high-order systems was
conducted at a government test facility during the August to October 2004 time frame.
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Archive
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Success of Multi-tools in Mine Action: The Survivable Demining Tractor and Tools and the Mine-Clearing Survivable Vehicle
The authors examine the various equipment and technologies that allow further effectiveness in demining achievements. Recent developments in demining tools allow for greater protection of deminers, in addition to improved search results. With technological advancements such as the Survivable Demining Tractor and Tools and the Mine-Clearing Survivable Vehicle, the authors express hope for demining centers worldwide.
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The U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program
In 1994, the United States initiated a research and development (R&D) program to develop new, internationally shareable technologies for humanitarian deminers and for U.S. troops performing peacekeeping and stability operations. The Humanitarian Demining (HD) R&D Program is part of the overall U.S. effort to assist with the global landmine problem.
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U.S. Humanitarian Demining R&D Program: Emerging Technologies
Afghanistan, Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, Thailand, Cambodia, Honduras—these are only a few of the many nations suffering from a severe landmine problem, and seven of over 20 nations that have received assistance through a robust U.S. R&D program designed to help solve this crisis.
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Protecting Deminers From APLs: A Review of U.S./Canada Cooperation in R&D
Since early 1999, the Canadian and U.S. organizations responsible for delivering science and technology to the humanitarian demining community have cooperated on several research and development (R&D) programs in the area of personal protection equipment (PPE). This paper presents an overview of the work performed cooperatively, focusing on key lessons learned during this joint effort.
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Aardvark Mark IV Joint Services Flail Unit
The Aardvark Clear Mine, Limited of Scotland has been designing and producing a variety of mechanical minefield clearance machines for seventeen (17) years. The Mark IV Joint Services Flail Unit has been in production since 1999, and it is the product of years of improvement to the Aardvark Flail System basic design.
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Trials of the CEG Air-Spade
Trials of the CEG Air-Spade at the Regional Mines Action Centre Office in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
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Antipersonnel Mine Neutralization Device
The Antipersonnel Mine Neutralization Device (APMINUD) is a mechanical system for safely detonating Antipersonnel
mines as part of a peace time mine clearance operation. It is intended to be used in conjunction with a shielded, all terrain
vehicle with hydraulic crane. The system would be used to neutralize previously marked AP mines by detonating them one at a time.
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All-Purpose Remote Transport System
The ARTS provides a robotic platform from which to safely
conduct hazardous operations by allowing the operator to be located at a safe standoff distance
while conducting clearance operations through a remote control unit. The remote control
provides a significant reduction in risk to the operator, but the system is currently not armored.
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Improved Antipersonnel Mine Neutralization Device
This report describes the esults and analysis of the field test of the Improved Anti Personnel Mine Neutralization Device (APMINUD). This is the second test of this equipment and follows a six month
design and engineering effort on the equipment to correct and improve upon deficiencies identified in the
initial version of the APMINUD.
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Handheld Metal Detectors: Nicaraguan Field Test Report
The main objective of the testing was to evaluate the performance of seven different detectors, two of which are presently used in Nicaraguan demining, as well as five other detectors which were shown by the IPPTC to have promise when used in areas with soil that makes it difficult to detect mines.
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Rhino Earth Tiller Test Report Area Reduction in Mixed Minefields
The Rhino Earth Tiller has been thoroughly evaluated and found to be effective in a variety of environments as a clearance tool against antipersonnel mines. The survivability of the system against a range of explosive threats has also been evaluated through test and under operational conditions. The current philosophy for employing the Rhino allows for use in clearing antipersonnel landmines in situations where the probability of encountering an antitank mine is extremely low.
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Tractor Accessorized Zerriest Series II
The system is capable of masticating all vegetation ranging from light grasses to large trees, as well as excavating the ground. For demining purposes, this tool could be used in conjunction with other tools (rakes, magnets, rollers,
etc.) to clear large areas of vegetation, allowing deminers and dogs to completely clear
the area and perform quality assurance. The TAZ II is not currently armored or remote
controlled to provide safety to operators, but could conceivably be modified to have these capabilities.
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Report on the Mine Clearing Rake Test
Interest has been expressed in seeing the Mine Clearing Rake (MCR) included in the tool box offered to organizations for application in humanitarian demining (HD) missions. Based on the performance of the Mine Clearing Rake during this
operational evaluation test, it should not be considered for use in Humanitarian Demining
operations.
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Video
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Detection Technologies 2014
Humanitarian Demining detection technologies video update 2014
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