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Mine Clearance in Vietnam

Mine Clearance in Vietnam. James Harland School of Computer Science & IT RMIT University james.harland@rmit.edu.au. Mine Clearance in Vietnam. 12 th November, 2010. Where is this building?. Where is this building?. Where is this building?. Where is this building?.

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Mine Clearance in Vietnam

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  1. Mine Clearance in Vietnam James Harland School of Computer Science & IT RMIT University james.harland@rmit.edu.au Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  2. 12th November, 2010 Where is this building?

  3. 12th November, 2010 Where is this building?

  4. 12th November, 2010 Where is this building?

  5. 12th November, 2010 Where is this building?

  6. 12th November, 2010 Where is this building?

  7. 12th November, 2010 Where is this building?

  8. 12th November, 2010 Where is this building?

  9. Why? • 42,000 people killed by landmines in the past 35 years • In one district, 300 children killed and 58 blinded or lost limbs • 65-70 million landmines worldwide • RMIT is the first and so far only `foreign’ university in Vietnam • Robots are getting better all the time … Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  10. Why? Which person would you rather be? Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  11. iRobot • Domestic robots • Military robots • CTO is Rodney Brooks • Australian office (in Sydney) • “Send us a proposal” Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  12. GSW (via Elaine Saunders & Sarah Dods) • Consulting campany based in Germany • ‘Swords to ploughshare’ brief (ie convert military technologies to civilian uses) • Looking for projects in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam • Looking for a research partner • Two main projects: • Bushfire control • Landmine clearance Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  13. GSW Mine detection • Bacterium developed to detect mines • After release, finds mines and glows • Developed for desert environments • Mines can’t be too deeply buried • Will require modification to work in humid climates like Vietnam Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  14. GSW Mine clearance • Laser used to burn hole in the side of the mine • Pressure is released, and mine burns without exploding • Developed for desert environments • Mines can’t be too deeply buried • Unclear how well this will work in Vietnamese jungle with long-buried mines Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  15. Lots of other ideas & players • Serge Demidenko, Professor and Head of Centre of Technology at RMIT Vietnam • Serge Stinckwich, of IRD in Hanoi • BOMICEN, Vietnamese government demining centre • James Trevelyan, of UWA in Perth • Norbert Burman from DSTO Adelaide • Various non-profit groups • US Vietnam Veterans • … Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  16. Plan of action Map minefields Detect Mines Clear Mines Export process Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  17. Map minefields • US Veterans did a detailed survey in July, 2009 • Transform this into an electronic map • Incorporate old maps and stories from locals • Terrain? • Shows what RMIT can do • Will act as an `organising tool’ for the later parts • iPhone app available for users to get local information Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  18. Detect mines • GSW bacterium requires research • Dervish robot? • Other robots • Radar? • UAVs? • Effect of 35-40 years since mines were laid • What kinds of mines were laid? Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  19. Clear mines • GSW laser requires research • Dervish robot? • Other robots • Training in new technologies for clearance teams • Field trials and interactions with other organisations Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  20. Export process • Lots more mines in Laos and Cambodia, and … • RMIT Vietnam could become a regional centre for mine clearance technologies • Train clearance teams in up-to-date technologies • Maintenance base for robots? • Research base for robots and other technologies? Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  21. First steps • Obtain report from US Vietnam Veterans about the location of minefields • Investigate appropriate technology for electronic version of this information • Establish contact with BOMICEN • Discuss minefields of Vietnam with Norbert Burman, from DSTO Adelaide • Research which groups are active in mine clearance in Vietnam (Peace Trees Vietnam, Vietnam Veterans' Mine Clearing Team, Mines Advisory Group, …) • Investigate potential links with University of Edinburgh Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  22. The `Edinburgh Connection’ … James Harland: PhD from University of Edinburgh Don Sannella: PhD and Professor at University of Edinburgh (James’s supervisor) Programmed the Dervish mine clearance robot Stephen Salter: Professor at University of Edinburgh Developed the Dervish mine clearance robot Alistair Elfick: Research at University of Edinburgh Developed the bacterium used by GSW Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

  23. More Information Overview: http://goanna.cs.rmit.edu.au/~jah/mines.html More details: http://goanna.cs.rmit.edu.au/~jah/Mines (login required; email me for the login name and password) Mine Clearance in Vietnam 12th November, 2010

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