Asked by: Panos Augustithis, Greece
It’s very tricky to detect mines because they are designed to be hidden from view. An unmanned drone is being developed for this purpose in the UK by Sir Bobby Charlton’s charity Find a Better Way. It aims to spot chemicals leaching from mines using its hyperspectral imaging of plant foliage.
However, most devices aim to safely detonate the landmines. An unusual example is the ‘mine kafon’. This giant biodegradable ball of bamboo spines is designed to be blown by the wind across a minefield, detonating mines that its spines touch, while its onboard GPS records where it has travelled.
Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.
