Aerial multi-spectral AI-based detection system for unexploded ordnance

Unexploded ordnance(UXO)poses a threat to soldiers operating in mission areas,but current UXO detection systems do not necessarily provide the required safety and efficiency to protect soldiers from this hazard.Recent technological advancements in artificial intelligence(AI)and small unmanned aerial systems(sUAS)present an opportunity to explore a novel concept for UXO detection.The new UXO detection system proposed in this study takes advantage of employing an AI-trained multi-spectral(MS)sensor on sUAS.This paper explores feasibility of AI-based UXO detection using sUAS equipped with a single(visible)spectrum(SS)or MS digital electro-optical(EO)sensor.Specifically,it describes the design of the Deep Learning Convolutional Neural Network for UXO detection,the development of an AI-based algorithm for reliable UXO detection,and also provides a comparison of performance of the proposed system based on SS and MS sensor imagery.

Review and Analysis: United States Cluster Munitions and Unexploded Ordnance Left in Laos after the Second Indochina War

Cluster munitions release dozens of smaller bomblets that rain deadly ammunition on armored tanks, vegetation and troops, effectively striking broad areas of war zone landscapes in one launch. However, only about 60% of bomblets detonate immediately and those that fail to detonate fall to the ground and can lie dormant for years. The legacy of cluster munitions in Laos from the Second Indochina War is unexploded bomblets across the landscape that unexpectedly detonate years later, injuring and killing children, farmers, and other civilians long after the war is over. In Laos, the United States (US) military operation against the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a network of foot and bicycle paths, waterways, and truck routes along the Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam borders linking North and South Vietnam began in 1959. By the 1960s, as the war escalated, trail traffic was interdicted frequently by CIA and US Air Force using tactical herbicide spraying to defoliate dense vegetation and bombing to disrupt supplies and North Vietnamese troops dispersed along the 16,000-kilometer trail. Unexploded ordinance (UXO), including cluster munitions, from U.S. bombings continued in recent years to detonate, kill, maim and injure Laotians and render agricultural lands too hazardous to cultivate. The primary objectives of this study are to document: 1) the long-term consequences and impacts of the US Air Force bombing of Laos during the Second Indochina War (1959 to 1973);2) the United States removal of unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions;and 3) worldwide relief efforts to help the Laotians maimed by unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions.

Methods of Classification of Ordnance Materials Military-Civilian Joint Support Categories Based on Multiple Attribute Decision

Ordnance material is the physical basis of ordnance equipment maintenance and support. With the increase of technology content and the enhancement of structural complexity of ordnance equipment,the traditional way of military self-independent support is unable to meet the troops' requirements. It has become an inevitable trend to integrate ordnance materials with the militarycivilian joint support. However, there is a problem demanding prompt solution,that is,to distinguish the categories of ordnance material that can be supported by civilian source. Based on the inherent properties of ordnance material, a method to classify ordnance materials military-civilian joint support categories based on multiple attribute decision was proposed. The effectiveness was validated through practical cases.

Introducing Journal of China Ordnance

JOURNAL OF CHINA ORDNANCE, an official journal sponsored by China Ordnance Society and published half-yearly, aims to presenting the latest developments and achievements of the academic circles specializing in the field of ordnance science and technology. It provides a

Study on chemical failure of HMX under low temperature condition

In order to make unexploded ordnance lose explosive ability,the chemical failure of HMX that is usually used as detonating explosive and booster was studied so as to find the corresponding chemical reagents,which can decompose HMX into compounds without explosive properties.For this purpose,several decomposition experiments between HMX and NaOH,HMX and thick H2 SO,HMX and mixed acid under different temperature conditions were carried out.According to the experimental results,it can be concluded that HMX can be decomposed by a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated nitric acid with the volume ratio of 3∶1.When its decomposed level reaches 60%,HMX will not be detonated,therefore the failure purpose is achieved.

Weight distribution of sub-munitions fuze design

In order to explore the unexploded ordnance problem of cluster munitions and find the so- lutions, an M85 sub-munitions reliability model was established by applying the Monte Carlo method. Simulation and experimental statistics matched the proportion of unexploded ordnance, so the hy- pothesis was feasible. The causes of failure and influencing factors of the dual-purpose improved conventional munitions M85 were analyzed according to experimental data. The sensitivity of each device in fuze was also analyzed. The sorting of weight of each device influence in M85 sub-muni- tions fuze was determined. Stabilization device with the maximum weight is the key components of sub-munitions fuze, so these results provide a reference to the analysis and redesign of other sub- munitions fuzes.

An inexpensive underwater mine countermeasures simulator with real-time 3D after action review

This paper presents the results of a concept capability demonstration pilot study, the aim of which was to investigate how inexpensive gaming software and hardware technologies could be exploited in the development and evaluation of a simulator prototype for training Royal Navy mine clearance divers, specifically focusing on the detection and accurate reporting of the location and condition of underwater ordnance. The simulator was constructed using the Blender open source 3D modelling toolkit and game engine, and featured not only an interactive 3D editor for underwater scenario generation by instructors, but also a real-time, 3D After Action Review(AAR) system for formative assessment and feedback.The simulated scenarios and AAR architecture were based on early human factors observations and briefings conducted at the UK's Defence Diving School(DDS), an organisation that provides basic military diving training for all Royal Navy and Army(Royal Engineers) divers. An experimental pilot study was undertaken to determine whether or not basic navigational and mine detection components of diver performance could be improved as a result of exposing participants to the AAR system, delivered between simulated diving scenarios. The results suggest that the provision of AAR was accompanied by significant performance improvements in the positive identification of simulated underwater ordnance(in contrast to non-ordnance objects) and on participants' description of their location, their immediate in-water or seabed context and their structural condition. Only marginal improvements were found with participants' navigational performance in terms of their deviation accuracies from a pre-programmed expert search path. Overall, this project contributes to the growing corpus of evidence supporting the development of simulators that demonstrate the value of exploiting open source gaming software and the significance of adopting established games design techniques in delivering highly engaging scenarios to defence training communities.

Research on the Properties of a Surface-Type Infrared Decoy and Effect of Multiple Launching

To study the properties of a new surface-type infrared decoy,the numerical dispersion model and the infrared radiance model of the plates are established. In addition,the temperature of a single plate was measured during combustion experiment,and the spatial position and infrared radiance of each plate are calculated in plate cloud by the two models respectively. Furthermore,the radar images of the plate cloud are simulated and analyzed in dependence of time and direction for single and multiple launching. The result shows that the surface-type infrared decoy can be a point source of interference when the missile is remote tracking. In the meanwhile,the plates cloud shelters the infrared characteristics of the plume and jets of aircraft when the missile is on IR imaging guidance mode. Moreover,With the analysis of the plate cloud dispersion at different intervals and the infrared radiation intensity in the case of different launching number,it can be concluded that a comfortable launching interval can maintain a continuous plate cloud,launching the decoys simultaneously increase the increment of the radiation intensity obviously,the multiple launching is an effective way to enhance the interference property of the decoy.

Validity of a noninvasive estimation of deep body temperature when wearing personal protective equipment during exercise and recovery

Background:Deep body temperature is a critical indicator of heat strain.However,direct measures are often invasive,costly,and difficult to implement in the field.This study assessed the agreement between deep body temperature estimated from heart rate and that measured directly during repeated work bouts while wearing explosive ordnance disposal(EOD)protective clothing and during recovery.Methods:Eight males completed three work and recovery periods across two separate days.Work consisted of treadmill walking on a 1%incline at 2.5,4.0,or 5.5 km/h,in a random order,wearing EOD protective clothing.Ambient temperature and relative humidity were maintained at 24℃and 50%[Wet bulb globe temperature(WBGT)(20.9±1.2)℃]or 32℃and 60%[WBGT(29.0±0.2)℃]on the separate days,respectively.Heart rate and gastrointestinal temperature(TGI)were monitored continuously,and deep body temperature was also estimated from heart rate(ECTemp).Results:The overall systematic bias between TGI and ECTemp was 0.01℃with 95%limits of agreement(Lo A)of±0.64℃and a root mean square error of 0.32℃.The average error statistics among participants showed no significant differences in error between the exercise and recovery periods or the environmental conditions.At TGI levels of(37.0–37.5)℃,(37.5–38.0)℃,(38.0–38.5)℃,and>38.5℃,the systematic bias and±95%Lo A were(0.08±0.58)℃,(–0.02±0.69)℃,(–0.07±0.63)℃,and(–0.32±0.56)℃,respectively.Conclusions:The findings demonstrate acceptable validity of the ECTemp up to 38.5℃.Conducting work within an ECTemp limit of 38.4℃,in conditions similar to the present study,would protect the majority of personnel from an excessive elevation in deep body temperature(>39.0℃).

UXO Assessment on the Romanian Black Sea Coast

This paper aims to provide the reader with the results of the Unexploded Ordnance(UXO)survey of the defensive historical naval minefields launched by the Romanian and German Navies on the Romanian Black Sea coast,during the Second World War.This UXO survey was carried out between 2015-2018 by the Romanian Navy’s hydrographic ship“Commander Alexandru Cătuneanu”and Romanian Mine Warfare Data Center,using towed side-scan sonar technology and oceanographic observations.After explaining the materials and methodology,the results are presented and discussed:mosaics of the minefields,side-scan images of UXO contacts,side-scan images of the wrecks that were sunk in the minefields and some visible natural geological features of the seafloor.It was concluded that most of the objects discovered are sinkers,wreck debris or parts of chains,which does not represent a danger to navigation.