- Landmines

Being blown up is all in a day's work (back to top)

The Advertiser 26-01-01

By Science Writer, MARK STEENE

A robot that clears landmines by deliberately blowing itself up is being developed by Adelaide defence scientists. The robot, the Ultimus Spider, is designed to fly apart when it strikes a landmine, and then be quickly reassembled in the field. Researchers at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation's Adelaide-based Land Operations Division hope that system will operate cheaply enough to be cost effective against the notoriously cheap landmines. They are working with the Adelaide University department of mechanical engineering on the project. DSTO task manager Leong Yen said the Spider was designed to detonate anti-tank mines but would probably detonate anti-personnel mines as well. He said the Spider's wheels would be on long legs, keeping the blast zone away from the complicated electronics needed to operate the robots when they strike a mine. "The aim is to keep the explosion zone away from key parts of the system," he said. "The wheels and suspension elements are designed to sheer off. The aim is to minimise the cost of replacement parts." The key to the Spider, Mr Yen said, would be the virtually indestructible wheels and suspension elements that could be reassembled or replaced quickly. "Ideally you could do it (reassemble parts) within five minutes," he said. Mr Yen said a miniature robotic plastic model had been built by the Adelaide University engineering students to test various aspects of the design, such as traction. Next, he said, a virtual prototype would be built on a computer to complete simulations and "de-bug" the design. "Then we'll be looking at scale model tests to see if the physics are right," he said. "Hopefully we'll have a full-scale prototype to test in the field next year. It should be ready (for production) a couple of years after that."

25 February 2001

The Director,
Defence, Science and Technology Organisation
Salisbury
South Australia 5018

Dear Sir,

We wish to congratulate the DSTO and the scientists in your Land Operations Division for their work in trying to make the elimination of anti-personnel landmines safer and quicker. The elimination of these terrible weapons, which keep killing long after conflict ceases, is of vital concern to us all. We hope that all goes well with the development of the Ultimus Spider robot landmine clearing vehicle, and hope that it is soon able to assist in the clearance of anti-personnel landmines. We are delighted to see the skills and facilities of DSTO being utilised for the production of articles to be used for peaceful purposes. It is our hope that this will happen more and more, until the production of weapons of war is at the absolute minimum required for basic defence.

Yours sincerely,

Irene Gale AM

Secretary, Australian Peace Committee (SA) Inc.

A Peace of the Action

Radio program A Peace of the Action is dedicated to commentary on peace and social justice issues. Radio Adelaide 101.5 FM every Sunday at 12.30pm.

LANDMINES

International Campaign to Ban Landmines Australian Network

Being blown up is all in a day's work (back to top)

The Advertiser 26-01-01