Prototype of a UAV-borne magnetometer for landmine detection

Abstract

In this work, a prototype of a portable on-board magnetometer of aerial unmanned vehicle (UAV) for remote searching landmines and other explosive objects was developed and investigated. An analysis of available hardware by domestic and foreign manufacturers was carried out for its development taking into account availability on the market, accuracy of measurements, minimization of cost, dimensions and weight. According this analysis the equipments kit was selected and a prototype of an on-board magnetometer for UAV was developed which provides measurement of three spatial components of the Earth’s magnetic field, geographic coordinates of the sensing unit and recording this data on portable magnetic storage devices. To ensure a self-independence and versatility, the developed prototype is connected to the carrier mechanically only. Also, the software for the pre-processing of magnetometer and satellite positioning subsystem data stored on magnetic media has been developed. The test of the working capacity of the prototype was performed in laboratory and field conditions by magnetic measurements of typical landmines, explosive and other metal objects within the Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Kamianets-Podilskyi city territories. The variation of magnetometer readings (standard deviation) in field conditions was 1,6 nT. The possibility of acquiring the magnetic signatures of landmines and explosive objects with the prototype developed was demonstrated using the TM-62M anti-tank landmine dummy. The maximum possible altitude of such landmine detection with an acceptable probability was estimated as close to 2 m.