Automation of humanitarian demining: The 2016 humanitarian robotics and automation technology challenge

This paper introduces the problem of detection of landmines and unexploded ordnances. This is a serious humanitarian problem affecting dozens of countries across the world. A solution using robots for cleaning affected areas would have a huge positive impact for the life of persons living there and has for long been foreseen, but this approach has its own difficulties. The paper presents a Challenge aiming to engage researchers across the world into this problem and helping to improve robotics demining. The different phases of the Humanitarian Robotics and Automation Technology Challenge (HRATC) are described and the progresses achieved after three years of running the Challenge are analyzed and discussed.