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Laser Imaging Drone To Hunt Out Unexploded Bombs In War-Torn Nations
An anonymous reader writes Aerial imaging firm Arch Aerial has discussed its hopes to deploy drones to map out mine fields and locations littered with unexploded bombs from historical warfare. CEO Ryan Baker suggested that his company wants to start the program in Laos, the world's most heavily bombed country. The 'octocopter' technology will work using a remote laser imaging platform called LIDAR to analyze fields and identify sites where UXO is likely to be uncovered. The sensor technology LIDAR is a crucial system in the design as it can easily see through vegetation and creates detailed maps of the terrain. Surveyors will be then be able to use the maps to look for topographical signs which suggest past bombing activity.
Which class of laser are they using which can penetrate the canopy of a jungle? There are many sensors more appropriate for the searching: Ground penetrating radar. Multispectral or hyperspectral camera sensors to check the leaf patterns for varied chemicals. Also for the larger areas covered it seems like a fixed wing design might be more appropriate.
a. I didn't want to do the search myself. No one would want to.
b. I work with actual EOD guys who like to blow shit up and defuse bombs. The man who taught me how to strip down the M9 Beretta was a EOD 1SG.
c. The point is that aerial searches don't work - period. I could recount some of the incidents. Some I can't. One I can recount involved a vehicle checkpoint that was found to have huge UXOs virtually right underneath it.
d. You didn't even read the initial comment or have reading comprehension problems.
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