Solutions to win: Ukrainian engineers create device to defuse enemy mines, compared to technology from sci-fi classic Dune

Ukraine remains the title of the most heavily mined country in the world. Ukrainian engineers have designed the "ARTEMIDA" [Artemis, goddess of hunting – ed.] device to counter the Russian "Okhota" ["hunting" in English – ed.] complex of anti-personnel mines.

Forbes reports this.

What is the problem?

According to Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, as of early April, approximately one-fourth of Ukraine's territory has been contaminated with explosive devices. The regions liberated from invaders continue to be heavily mined.

What is the solution?

To counter the threat of the Russian anti-personnel mines "Okhota," Ukrainian engineers created the "ARTEMIDA" device.

How does it work?

The "Okhota" complex consists of five standard antipersonnel mines and a special seismic sensor that detects ground vibrations caused by human steps at a distance of up to 90 meters.

When a target is in range, the nearest mine is automatically activated.

^{Photo: Forbes}

To eliminate this risk, engineers developed the "ARTEMIDA" device.

It's a cylindrical metal object with a spike released from a drone. Once deployed, "Artemis" emits pulses that simulate human footsteps, causing the mines in the "Okhota" complex to detonate prematurely.

Journalists likened "ARTEMIDA" to the Thumper device featured in Frank Herbert's sci-fi novel Dune, which replicated the vibrations of human footfalls to lure colossal sandworms. 

For reference:

Initially, the area of ​​de-occupied territories in Ukraine potentially contaminated with explosive objects was estimated at 174,000 square kilometers, of which 14,000 square kilometers are water areas.

As of June, 30,000 square kilometers of Ukraine's de-occupied territories have been recognized as containing no evidence of contamination by explosive objects. This is more than 17% of the previous estimate of pollution.

The Ukrainian company A3Tech-Ukraine, which assembles large units and partially produces Croatian DOK-ING machines, received a certificate of conformity for the MV-10 heavy demining machine.

It was also reported that Ukrainian developers, as part of the "Safe Field" hackathon, implemented on the initiative of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine together with the Kyiv School of Economics, tested their developments for mowing thick vegetation on the training ground.