Software Driven Virtual Minefield

The proposed research builds upon the basic research results from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Duke University. The proposed team will conduct the research and development work that is necessary for the creation of a new detector research andtraining capability for land mine detection. This new simulation capability will provide to the operator of handheld landmine detection systems a virtual experience for training that combines a minefield with realistic sensor signals corresponding toactual target signatures in various realistic soil and environmental conditions. The system would provide feedback to the operator for performance enhancement and would support operator training and reorientation to a new environment, as well asexperimentation with operator cueing formats. The system uses real-time video tracking technology and realistic audio-visual feedback. Engineering Technology, Inc. (ETI) has implemented the real-time video tracker into the deployable Sweep MonitoringSystem (SMS). When the operator is using the virtual minefield, the simulated detector generates a realistic audio response as if it were a true working detector operating in an environment with real buried mines. This program brings together a team ofuniversity researchers at CMU and Duke University and Engineering Technology, Inc. (ETI), a defense contractor, to insure success from laboratory development through technology transition and commercialization. Since the software driven minefield will beable to emulate any common sensor response, it will transition rapidly to the commercial market because it be highly effective in training the demining personnel on current land mine sensor technologies and will significantly enhance their performance.This commercial market is expected to be an order of magnitude larger than the military market, resulting in a significant dual use capability.