Sensorics of the German Mine Detection System MMSR

Abstract

The future mobile mine detection and clearing system “Mobiles Minensuch- und Räumsystem” (MMSR) is designed to detect, mark and clear mines located on roads, paths and in open country. The MMSR program is now in the experimental phase, the aim being to test the effectiveness of the individual sensors in detecting mines, as well as their ability to operate jointly via data fusion. The following basic sensors have already been implemented: a multispectral camera platform, a magnetic induction sensor and ground penetrating radar. Each sensor has its own real-time signal processing, whose detection and classification results are merged in a higher order processing stage. Each time an alarm is generated a verification sensor checks for the presence of explosives in order to prevent false alarms. The mine-detection capability of the complete MMSR system will be tested in a specially laid minefield during the 4^th quarter 2001, initially without the verification sensor.