Prodding to detect mines: a technique with a future

The advantage of 'close-in' detection, requiring transducers to be actually introduced into the soil covering a landmine, has been argued. Experiments with mechanically assisted rotating prodders shows that they can penetrate even very hard dry soils at low force and high speed, provided the soils are homogeneous. The speed of penetration is roughly proportional to the speed of rotation of the prodder up to very high values around 20000 rpm. Less homogeneous soils, e.g. those containing gravel, can also be penetrated at speed provided a more brush-like tool is used. Simple smart prodders, with low power consumption and a well-designed user interface, can offer a significant improvement in the quantity of information available to a deminer who is attempting to discriminate between a mine and other objects.