Electro-optical land mine detection
Ingo Schwaetzer, Thomas Blazejewski · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2003
In the time frame from 1997 to 2001 two R&D studies were carried out by the German MoD under the responsibility from the BWB KG IV 3 and FE III 2 within the area of land mine detection: One ground based vehicle with several different sensors and an airborne version with electro-optical sensors only. In both contracts, Bodenseewerk GmbH was responsible for the real-time image-processing and signal-processing of the electro-optical sensors. In the ground-based version, BGT was subcontracted by Rheinmetall Land Systems. In the airborne version, BGT and Dornier conducted the study on a 50/50 share, but for legal reasons BGT was subcontracted by Dornier. The paper covers three topics: Basics on electro-optical land mine detection, Usable types of sensors. Primary and secondary features. Real-time signal processing. Systolic Array Processor. HW and SW architecture of experimental detection devices. Description of ground-based system, focus on electro-optical system. Images of system and scenarios. Trial results. Description of airborne system. Images of system and scenarios. Trial results.