Objective
Provide a capability to detect and identify shallow buried metallic and non-metallic landmines.

Description
The handheld Electromagnetic wave Detection and Imaging Transceiver (EDIT) mine detector is a self-contained, portable, ergonomic, and low maintenance system for detecting and imaging landmines. The detector consists of a Resonant Microstrip Patch Antenna (RMPA) sensor with associated electronics mounted on the bottom of a lightweight plate attached to a handheld wand, a visual LCD display mounted in a frontal viewing position, a 12V DC battery pack which also acts as a counterbalance, and a X-Y-Z coordinator for tracking. The Landmine Detection Sensor (LDS) head, which houses the RMPA sensor and impedance measuring electronics, emits a primary electromagnetic wave and measures the impedance value of combined partially reflected waves from the air-soil interface and the secondary wave from the buried object. To compensate for sensor height variation that occurs during its operation, a calibration algorithm is built into the EDIT detector. During a normal scan mode of operation, a wireless tracking subsystem is placed in the right side of a 1-meter surveying area to transmit/receive data from the LDS head to detect and generate shaded images of subsurface metallic and non-metallic objects. The detector can also be operated as a conventional audio-based detector by removing the X-Y-Z tracking system. The EDIT mine detector design features a telescoping assembly to adjust for physical differences among deminers.

• There is an optimal height that must be maintained to achieve effective detection and imaging. 
• To obtain the best performance with EDIT, it is important to maintain a constant height during each sweep and to operate at frequencies of 630 and 850 MHz.

EDIT detector in operation
 with a X-Y-Z tracking
 system to identify the
 location of a target in
 1-meter survey area.

View of assembled
EDIT detector.