New research from the University of Mississippi offers a promising solution to the global issue of landmines that still plague many countries around the world. Vyacheslav Aranchuk, a principal scientist at the National Center for Physical Acoustics, presented his innovative laser multibeam vibration sensor technology at the Optica Laser Congress and Exhibition in Osaka, Japan. This technology has the potential to detect buried landmines much faster than current techniques, offering hope for the millions of landmines that still pose a threat to civilians in conflict and post-conflict zones.
The widespread problem of landmines is staggering, with more than 110 million active landmines worldwide and thousands of casualties each year. The majority of landmine casualties are civilians, including many children, who suffer the devastating consequences of these hidden explosives left behind from past conflicts. Current methods of landmine detection, such as handheld metal detectors and ground-penetrating radar, are limited in their effectiveness, making it difficult and dangerous to locate buried landmines. The cost of identifying and removing landmines can be as high as $1,000 per mine, making it a costly and time-consuming process.
Aranchuk’s research team developed a laser vibration sensor in 2019 that could detect buried objects from a safe distance using multiple laser beams. The latest technology further improves on this by creating a vibration map of the ground in less than a second, utilizing a matrix array of laser beams to detect buried landmines. This technology is particularly effective for plastic landmines, which are harder to detect with traditional methods that rely on metal detection. The laser multi-beam differential interferometric sensor, LAMBDIS, can be used from a moving vehicle, increasing the speed and accuracy of landmine detection.
The unique combination of laser and acoustic sensing in LAMBDIS reduces false positives and enhances safety by allowing operators to detect landmines from a greater distance. By inducing ground vibration and casting a two-dimensional array of laser beams at the ground, the researchers can create a vibration image that highlights the presence of buried landmines. This innovative technology has the potential for a wide range of applications beyond landmine detection, including assessing bridges, engineering structures, vibration testing, and non-destructive inspection of materials in various industries.
The next phase of Aranchuk’s research will focus on testing LAMBDIS’s performance with different buried objects and under various soil conditions. This research is supported by the U.S. Department of the Navy’s Office of Naval Research, highlighting the importance of this technology for addressing global security challenges. With the potential to revolutionize the detection and removal of landmines, Aranchuk’s laser vibration sensor technology offers hope for a safer future in regions affected by these deadly explosives.