Landmine, UEO or IED detection and destruction system

Abstract

A landmine, unexploded ordnance (UEO) or improvised explosive device (IED) detection and destruction system which uses ground penetrating (GPR) radar to detect and guide a ballistic weapon to destroy it. The positions of which are also visually communicated through smart helmets or headgear having heads up display visors worn by the personnel, soldiers, combatants or any endangered persons in the vicinity.

Claims

1. A landmine, UEO or IED detection and destruction system, comprising: a helmet or headgear or visor thereof adapted to be worn by a user, the helmet or headgear incorporating each of: a terrestrial or ground penetrating (GPR) radar specially adapted to detect and locate landmines, UEO or IED buried in the ground; a microprocessor controller in cooperation with the radar; and a wireless protocol transceiver adapted to send the location of the landmine, UEO or IED to a central command computer; and a guided ballistic weapon adapted to fire a projectile at a located landmine, UEO or IED so as to destroy the located landmine, UEO or IED; wherein a location of the located landmine, UEO or IED is used to control and guide the ballistic weapon; and the central command computer, upon receiving the location of the located landmine, UEO or IED, communicates said location to the wireless protocol transceiver incorporated into the helmet or headgear of any further users in the vicinity of the located landmine, UEO or IED via a wireless telecommunications protocol.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless telecommunications protocol includes a wireless personal area network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless telecommunications protocol is Bluetooth.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the GPR radar is adapted to detect landmines, UEO or IED within a distance of 10 metres of the bomb disposal personnel, soldier or combatant.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a remote controlled unmanned armoured vehicle, which is controlled by user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the guided ballistic weapon is mounted on the remote controlled unmanned armoured vehicle.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein, in use, the user walks behind the vehicle when on patrol.

8. The system of claim 1, further including a tank, which is controlled by the user and the guided ballistic weapon is a cannon of the tank.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the guided ballistic weapon is carried by a user positioned at the front of a squad or platoon.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the guided ballistic weapon comprises a portable rocket launcher commonly referred to as a bazooka or a stovepipe.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the central command computer is located at a base camp or headquarters.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the central command computer is located in an armoured vehicle, aircraft, drone or tank.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the helmet or headgear has a heads-up display visor whereby the location of the located landmine, UEO or IED can be visually displayed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order that the present invention is more fully understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a soldier locating a landmine, UEO or IED and communicating its location.

(3) FIG. 2 is a drawing of a remote controlled armored vehicle equipped with a guided ballistic weapon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(4) FIG. 1 shows a landmine 10 buried in the ground. In this example, the terrestrial or ground penetrating (GPR) radar specially adapted to detect and locate landmines, UEO or IED is incorporated into the helmets 12, 14 or headgear or the visors thereof respectively of bomb disposal personnel or soldiers 16, 18. Preferably, the radar is adapted to detect landmines, UEO or IED within a distance of 10 meters from a walking or running soldier or combatant 16.

(5) Guided ballistic weapon 20 is adapted to fire a projectile at to destroy landmine 10 can be carried by a soldier 18 such as a scout or leader at the front of a squad or platoon. In this example, it is shown as a portable rocket launcher 20 often commonly referred to in military vernacular, as a bazooka or stovepipe.

(6) Microprocessor controllers in cooperation with the radar and the wireless protocol transceivers adapted to send the location information of the buried landmine 10 can be incorporated into the smart helmets 12, 14 worn by personnel 16, 18. Information of the location of the landmine is transmitted to a central command computer located at base headquarters or a mobile armored vehicle 22 and is communicated to any personnel 16, 18 in the vicinity of the landmine 10. The wireless telecommunications protocol used preferably includes Bluetooth, or an equivalent wireless personal area network. In a preferred example, the helmets 12, 14 or headgear have heads up display visors 12a, 14a wherein the location of the landmine 10 can be displayed as a visual on the visor.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a remote controlled unmanned armored vehicle 30 with a guided ballistic weapon in the form of a Gatling or machine gun 32 mounted atop the armored vehicle. As also shown in FIG. 1, the radar which detects the landmine 11 is incorporated in the helmet of soldier 36 operating a remote control 38 which controls the gun 32. Information of the location of the landmine or improvised explosive device 11 is sent via a wireless protocol and transmitted to a central command computer 40 located at a base camp or headquarters. In other examples, the system can be associated with a tank and the guided ballistic weapon comprises the main cannon of the tank. In the alternative or in addition, the system can be or associated with or operated from aircraft or airborne drones. As with the helmets 12, 14, 34, the wireless telecommunications protocol preferably includes Bluetooth, or an equivalent wireless personal area network.

(8) It will of course be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as herein set forth.

(9) In the specification the terms comprising and containing shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term including and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the terms comprising and containing such as comprise, comprises, contain and contains.

(10) The terms, UEO or IED are understood to represent both the singular and plural context as the case may be.