The Ai2 Institute participates in a project to develop a multi-cable robot whose objective will be to detect and detonate anti-personnel mines that have been left in certain areas after a conflict.

The project is part of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Program and universities from Colombia, Italy, Slovakia and Spain are taking part.

The multi-cable robot consists of a robotic system that moves on a ground surface, without contact with the ground surface, subject to a cable route that allows the robot to be positioned in different ways. The system will be equipped with an artificial vision system, a detector and a system to detonate any mines that have remained without exploding.

Marina Vallés, robotics expert at the ai2 Institute and principal investigator of the project at the UPV, explains that the project is currently in its initial phase. “We are studying what type of mines exist and documenting the materials used to produce them, since the operation of our robot will depend on all of that.” “The idea is to design a system that improves those currently used to detonate these bombs, which are much more invasive with the terrain and vegetation,” explains the researcher.

The ai2 institute team integrated into the project will focus on both software development and prototype design. That is why among the experts there are researchers with extensive experience in parallel robots, but also others who have participated in numerous projects that integrate artificial vision systems.

The project, whose kick-off meeting was held at the end of 2023, will last until 2025 and aims to be applied in areas where there are a large number of anti-personnel mines without detonating, such as certain regions of Colombia, but also in the Balkans or Ukraine.