Scientists and engineers at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) are at the forefront of groundbreaking research into new drone technology that could revolutionise mine clearance operations. This innovative development aims to enhance the safety and mobility of Armed Forces personnel by clearing mined areas faster and more safely.
Surface laid mines, explosives, and buried munitions pose significant threats to the freedom of movement and mission effectiveness of the Armed Forces. To address this, the Dstl team, in collaboration with industry partners, conducted trials with NATO allies in Spain and at the Suffield Research Centre in Canada. By combining advancements in unscrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and low size, weight, and power (SWaP) sensing, the team developed innovative concepts for explosive threat detection.
