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Sensors & Electronics

Macro Property Measurement

Advanced Land Mine Detection Method (166)

Problem: Need for a low-cost, portable instrument capable of effective and efficient detection of buried land mines

Project Activity Scope (from Technical Overview Chart):Interaction Mechanisms through Measurement & Analysis Applications

PNNL Solution:

• Invented novel timed neutron detection method to rapidly find mines in arid & semi-arid soil (scan rates > 6 m²/min.)
• Demonstrated technique on real mines which have been disarmed
• Developed instrument weighing ~5 lbs and costing less than $5K
• Discover magazine award winner in 2001

Capabilities Employed to Meet Client Needs: Neutron science; analog & digital electronics; mechanical hardware design; system integration; system test & evaluation; system documentation development.

Selected Links to Related Information:

• Similar Application Examples (Same or Different Technology)
  • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Imaging (114)
  • Improved Radar for "Land" Mine Detection (115)
• Related Websites
  • Physics enables detector to find plastic, metal landmines
  • Radiological Detection and Nuclear Sciences Group
  • Timed Neutron Detector: A Demining Technology (Commercialization Opportunity)

Contact: Mary Bliss