VAMIDS Vehicular Array Mine Detection System

Schiebel Corporation

VAMIDS is designed to detect landmines, including those with minimal metallic content, and UXO from a vehicular platform. Additionally, with the use of special array segments, VAMIDS can detect buried UXO to depths of several meters. Although the system is designed to be used along established routes, it has good cross-country capability which depends on the terrain and the mobility of the platform.

The Control Unit is housed in a watertight and rugged case including an anti-vibration mounted military 19" rack. It is suitable for vehicular applications and withstands adverse environmental conditions.

The Control Unit contains:

• One Power Card,
• Up to twelve Sensor Cards, each interfacing with a group of four detection heads, and
• One Processor Card for conversion of the data received from the Sensor Cards

All connectors are of standard military type and are located on the rear outside of the Control Unit to facilitate assembly.

The VAMIDS main interface is the System Data Port. In addition, the Control Unit has the following other interfaces:

• An RS232 interface on the Processor Card face plate for local system access
• A synchronous serial data bus capable of indicating the exact location of a target to a marking system and reading distance information from a shaft encoder
• An output switched to the supply voltage under control of the processor to flag a global event warning
• Three additional RS232 interfaces for the connection of position sensors, such as GPS, DGPS, and compass

The Control Unit circuit cards provide face plates with control and display components for maintenance purposes.

The Arrays are available as rigid or flexible panels which can either be mounted on a vehicle structure or be pulled over the ground. The individual segments provide overlap areas on either side and may be arrayed up to a maximum width of six meters.

For the rigid version of the VAMIDS array segments the individual detection heads are embedded in one panel.

Flexible ArraysThe flexible arrays are designed to be pulled over the ground thus ensuring optimal coverage. The individual detection heads are mounted on a flexible drawbed structure which serves as a wear sheet both supporting and protecting the assembled detection heads.

Marking System

The VAMIDS Marking System is designed to accurately mark the location of targets and the cleared lane using an easily identifiable fluid. With up to eight spray nozzles per meter the system provides highly accurate, target-proportional marking capability.

The criteria for marking is selected and controlled via the VAMIDS Manager™ software. A wide variety of marking fluids can be used.

System Console

The System Console serves as an operator interface and can be an IBM-compatible PC, such as a notebook computer.

The VAMIDS Manager enables the operator to conveniently operate, configure, set-up, and diagnose the entire system in a user-friendly Windows™ environment. Target information and all individual detection channels are displayed during operation in real time.

Summary

VAMIDS is a high-performance mine detection system capable of fast and efficient wide area survey and marking.

• Dimensions 534 mm (21.00") wide 450 mm (17.70") deep 217 mm (8.50")
• highWeight - max. 14 kg (31 lbs)
• Supply Voltage - 12 to 24 V DC
• Current Consumption - max. 20 A
• Pulse Frequency (PRF) - max. 2.000 Hz
• Data Transfer Rate - max. 19.200 Baud
• Operational Temperature -40°C to +55°C
• Storage Temperature -55°C to +85°C

• Detection Width - 1000 mm (39.40")
• Dimensions 1180 mm (46.50") wide 390 mm (15.40") long 17 mm (0.67") thick
• Weight - 17 kg (37 lbs)
• No. of detection coils - eight

• Detection Width - 1000 mm (39.40")
• Dimensions 1180 mm (46.50") wide 700 mm (27.56") long 35 mm (1.38") thick
• Weight - 57 kg (126 lbs)
• No. of detection coils - twelve

• Effective Width - 1000 mm (39.40")
• Dimensions 1168 mm (45.60") wide 613 mm (24.10") long 150 mm (5.90") thick
• Weight - 20 kg (44 lbs)
• No. of detection coils - eight
• Max. Bend Angle +/- 14°

For wider array configurations add 1000 mm (39.40") in overall width and the single segment weight for each additional meter of Segmented Array.

• Processor - Intel Pentium
• Display - Standard VGA, 256 color, 640x480 or higher resolution, video display adapter
• Hard Disk - 10 MB minimum free
• Floppy Disk Drive - High density 3.5"
• Interfaces - One RS232 or RS485 serial data port
• Memory - 16 MB minimum
• Operating System - Windows 95, Windows 98