New ST1 drones are being tested in Ukraine: they will autonomously search for occupants’ explosives (video)
The complex consists of two drones, one of which searches for explosive devices, and the other marks their location on the ground and on a virtual map.
In Ukraine, the Brave1 project is testing an innovative unmanned ST1 demining system from Ailand Systems. The Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov announced this on his Facebook page.
ST1 is an autonomous drone for mine detection. It is equipped with an inductor coil and sensors that allow it to fly around obstacles at low altitude. Also on board is a powerful microcomputer that processes data and transmits it to the sappers in real time.
As one of the drone’s developers, Dmytro, told Dev.ua, the system includes two drones that automatically perform a mine-searching mission. The drones work in pairs: the first one scans the area and detects the mine with a metal detector, and the second one marks it with a flag and adds data about it to the map. According to Dmytro, because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, about half of our country’s territory is mined, and it will probably take ten years to clear it.
Photo: Screenshot
Currently, the developers are testing their system and are ready to assemble several such kits per month. The cost of a pair of sapper drones is about $5000.
The drone can be used in any landscape. Unlike demining machines, it is cheaper, faster and more maneuverable. According to Mikhail Fedorov, on average, ST1 works 4 times faster than a human. This will significantly speed up the process of demining Ukrainian territories and make it safer. For example, sappers from the State Emergency Service, the Armed Forces, and the National Police will be able to control the drone and search for mines from a safe place.
“Technology and innovation are the key to our victory and post-war renewal. Join the defense-tech cluster Brave1 and turn Ukraine into a leader in the defense industry,” wrote Mykhailo Fedorov.
