Real World Breakthroughs: Small Drone Remote Sensing in Humanitarian Mine Action

This is the presentation by John Fardoulis of Mobility Robotics from April 22nd, 2021 during the ICRC and GICHD webinar on: The Use of Remote Sensing and AI in the Mine Action Sector.

The presentation takes an in-depth look at breakthroughs using thermal imaging to find buried landmines from small drones in a desert environment, plus a more general look at the state of small drone remote sensing in humanitarian mine action (HMA).

Breakthoughs took place as part of the Odyssey 2025 Project which was delivered together with Humanity & Inclusion/Handicap International, under the auspices of the High Commission for Deming in Chad, the HCND, funded by the Belgian Department of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission.

Tech for Good: Thermal Technology for Locating Buried Landmines

We’re pleased to announce that sensor manufacturer FLIR Systems will be supporting our research and the humanitarian mine action sector more generally – to help improve methods using thermal technology for locating landmines and explosive remnants of war that cause human suffering and contaminate land decades after conflicts have ceased.

FLIR Systems will assist with technical support, outreach and discounts under their Conservation Discount Program.

You can read more about how thermal technology can locate buried landmines on the FLIR website.

Overview: #DronesforGood – in Humanitarian Mine Action

We were delighted to present at the World of Drones and Robotics Congress #WoDRC in Brisbane, Australia today – outlining how small drones can make a difference in humanitarian mine action (HMA).

A copy of the presentation can be seen from the link below.

The first part explains why HMA is necessary in over 60 countries and territories around the world, followed by examples and lessons from the field regarding how small drones can help in HMA. Basically a short case study, with real-world examples from work that took place under challenging: harsh, remote and hazardous conditions in the Sahara Desert in Chad from January 2019 until March 2020.

Small drones don’t work in isolation but can help to augment activities inolving: manual demining (human), mechanical and animal assets to improve productivity and capture additional dimensions regarding evidence and data.

Institutional support, embedded field trials, capacity building – including the development and delivery of two diploma levels of training for national indingenous staff, equipment selection and more advanced remote-sensing research was provided by Mobility Robotics during the Odyssey2025 Project in Chad together with Humanity and Inclusion (www.hi.org).

Return to Antikythera

The Return to Antikythera project is currently one of the most high profile underwater archaeology initiatives in the world. Expedition videos below provide insight into the calibre of this project.

John Fardoulis has been a member of the Return to Antikythera team for several years, with the most recent work being to provide a detailed terrain reconstruction of the coastline adjacent to the Antikythera shipwreck.

This data will be used to help build a floating dock, from which the Hublot-designed underwater ROV (aka. underwater drone), Bublot will be deployed in 2018.

The 2017 expedition video is below.

The following excerpt from the 2016 expedition video has had over 1.4 million views.

The 2015 expedition video is below.

Mobility Robotics has also provided aerial video services for a documentary being produced on the project.