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New Mine Hunter: a squirt gun.

  
 
grant
13:18 / 13.05.02
from Ananova:



Ananova :



Water pistol 'safer way to find and destroy landmines'

A child's water pistol has inspired a safer way of finding and destroying landmines.

Researchers in Missouri say water makes a slightly different noise each time it hits a different surface.

Computers could listen to large water jets squirted at a minefield and decide by ear where the explosives are buried.

Once they were found a second system would use higher powered jets to cut into the ground and safely expose the mine.

A third high-powered jet would then slice through the mine horizontally making it safe without even causing an explosion.

Scientists at the University of Missouri-Rolla came up with plan and say it will be safer than the current method of sending a soldier to prod the earth.

The university's Dr David Summers said: "We are trying to help find a way for countries to get rid of landmines without the danger that is normally involved. These mines are the cause of many civilian casualties."

The aim is to develop a system which will cost under $10,000 (£7,000).

Story filed: 14:39 Monday 13th May 2002
 
 
tSuibhne
13:33 / 13.05.02
Sounds like KISS in action. Here's hoping they pull it off. One question though. If the jet is powerful enough to remove the dirt over the land mine, wouldn't it be powerful enough to set it off?

I'm a complete idiot when it comes to the workings of landmines, so may be I'm just misunderstanding the way they work.
 
 
Lurid Archive
14:02 / 13.05.02
Thanks for that grant. I've got so used to military advances being about faster, more efficient ways to commit atrocities, that this is very welcome. Peanuts in terms of the big picture, but I like those small rays of hope.
 
 
Lionheart
17:49 / 13.05.02
tSuibhne: I don't think that the water stream moves dirt. Instead it tests the density of the fround through sound. Like when you knock on the wall to find hollow spaces. This is just the opposite. The water stream "knocks" on the ground to find objects of higher density.

Btw, I can't believe I never thought of this.
 
 
tSuibhne
19:01 / 13.05.02
Lion: I'm refering to this line:

Once they were found a second system would use higher powered jets to cut into the ground and safely expose the mine.
 
  
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