Mine-sweeping drone

The mine-sweeping drone is safer, 20 times faster and 200 times cheaper than currently available technologies, according to its creators.

Afghan brothers Massoud and Mahmud Hassani have developed a prototype unmanned airborne de-mining system, called the Mine Kafon Drone, which they claim can clear landmines around the globe in just 10 years.

The Hassanis claim the mine-sweeping drone is safer, 20 times faster and 200 times cheaper than currently available technologies, such as the use of animals, manual de-miners, and manually operated mine-detection vehicles.

The drone hunts for mines by flying with an aerial 3D mapping system to identify all dangerous areas with GPS way points. The drone then identifies mines using its metal-detecting arm which hovers 4cm above the ground. It geotags mines on the operator’s system to construct a map of known mine locations. The final stage of the process involves a robotic gripping arm placing a small detonator on every mine detected, which the drone triggers from a remote distance.

There are still 100 million landmines worldwide across 60 countries, killing 10 civilians per day, according to the Hassanis. The brothers are now raising funds to carry out pilot studies of their drones before commercialisation begins.