Analysis of the state of creation of robotic complexes for humanitarian demining

The object of research is robotic military complexes used in the system of humanitarian demining. This work aims to study the requirements for robotic military complexes (including manipulators that are sucked into them) and to develop proposals for their use in humanitarian demining. The research is based on the application of a functional approach to the construction of models for the formation of requirements for robotic military complexes (RMC), which are sucked into the system of humanitarian demining. It is established that the creation of RMC requires a significant study of the core of the most important technologies that are needed to create the entire range of promising RMC. Thus the standard sample RMC can be presented in the form of set of functionally connected elements: the basic carrier, the mobile platform, the specialized hinged/built-in equipment in the form of a set of removable modules of useful (target) purpose, means of maintenance and service used at preparation for application and technical operation robot. The composition of specialized equipment is set based on the functional purpose of the RMC. The classification of RMC is given, which provides for their division into three categories: the first generation – controlled devices, the second generation – semi-autonomous devices and the third generation – autonomous devices. The analysis of modern RMC which are developed in Ukraine and the advanced countries of the world and the analysis of structure of components of system of humanitarian demining is carried out. It is established that the organization of the humanitarian demining system with the use of RMC should include of explosive objects (EO) reconnaissance, search, marking, their identification and direct demining. Unmasking signs of EO, as well as modern methods and detectors of EO detection are considered. One of the new promising methods of mine detection is parametric. However, in real application, the most promising is the use of a combination of electromagnetic, optical and mechanical methods. The application of the proposed approaches will increase the efficiency of humanitarian demining and reduce human losses in its implementation.

MINSKA NEVARNOST NA KOSOVU V OBDOBJU OD 1999 DO 2001

Povzetek Mine sta na Kosovu polagali tako jugoslovanska stran kot tudi kosovsko-albanske oborožene formacije. Program humanitarnega razminiranja se je začel izvajati takoj po koncu vojaških aktivnosti in je bil končan decembra 2001. Podatki o postavljenih minah so se zbirali že od začetka sovražnosti. Začetne ocene minske nevarnosti so bile pretirane. Na jugoslovanski strani so mine polagali vojska, enote ministrstva za notranje zadeve in paravojaki. Jugoslovanska vojska je polagala mine skladno s taktiko JLA. Nasprotna kosovsko-albanska stran je polagala predvsem manjše skupine min. Glede na vojaško-tehnični sporazum je jugoslovanska vojska enotam Kforja predala 624 zapisnikov minskih polj. Na Kosovu so mine polagali še po koncu spopadov. Ključne besede protitankovske mine, protipehotne mine, humanitarno razminiranje, Kosovo. Abstract In Kosovo, landmines were laid by both parties involved. The humanitarian demining program started immediately after the end of the military activities and was successfully completed in December 2001. Data on the landmines were collected from the beginning of the hostilities. According to various information, the initial mine risk assessments were exaggerated. On the Yugoslav side, landmines were used by the military, units of the Ministry of the Interior and paramilitary units. The Yugoslav Army was laying mines in line with the tactics of the Yugoslav People’s Army. The opposing Kosovo-Albanian side, however, was mainly laying small groups of landmines. According to the military technical agreement, the Yugoslav Army handed over 624 minefield records to KFOR units. In Kosovo, landmines were also being laid after the end of the conflict. Key words Anti-tank landmines, anti-personnel landmines, humanitarian demining, Kosovo.

The legal basis of anti-mine activity in Ukraine: theoretical and implemental aspects

The issues of the systematization’s prerequisites providing of the modern array of the legal basis of anti-mine activity in Ukraine and identifying the theoretical and implemental features its content formation are reviewed, the specifics of anti-mine activity relationships, the need and the possibility of segregation of those relations into an independent subject of legal regulation are determined. The specifics of relations in anti-mine activity is disclosed not only by the main components of anti-mine action in Ukraine, but also by other provisions of the special Law in this field: 1) the content of the national interests of Ukraine; 2) object and subject composition; 3) the nature of the activity; 4) the meaning of the terms “humanitarian demining” and “anti-mine activity”. Nevertheless, we should note that practically no one specific component of the relations of anti-mine activity has been regulated in the current version of the Law on anti-mine activity, except for the subject composition. The formation of a by-Law block of anti-mine activity legislation, first of all, shall be implemented by the government, since the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approves in this field: the procedure for organizing and conducting anti-mine activity; regulations on the national and operational anti-mine activity body, the commission on the accreditation of operators and monitoring their compliance; the procedure for involving operators to execution of anti-mining events; national standards for humanitarian demining; a list of the probably contaminated and contaminated with explosive objects territories of Ukraine; the procedure for compensation for caused damage, restoration and environmental protection.

Antipersonnel landmines in the Colombian internal conflict: implications for technology development

The effort of universities, companies, and the state in Colombia to face home-made AP landmines has generated useful solutions and studies for many projects developed in the last decade, including demining processes in Colombia. Antipersonnel mines have changed in the last 15 years, due to the intermittent nature of our internal conflict. For example, as Descontamina Colombia mentions on its website, non-state armed groups cut the detonator containing the primary explosive to decrease the metal in the mine. This paper shows the aspects of the conflict that have affected humanitarian demining in Colombia, which help in the design and construction of technological devices. This article does not attempt to describe each of the typical technologies in humanitarian demining processes, but rather to show the characteristics considered in the design of two detection devices aimed at detecting home-made AP landmines.