This Smart Camera System Can Detect Roadside Bombs In Real Time

Roadside bombs are an effective method in battlefields as they can easily be made and hidden. They are often a challenge for soldiers to identify as they are made in different sizes and shapes, as well as being buried underground.

Dutch researchers have found an effective solution to this problem and what they created is a smart camera system that can be mounted to military vehicles.

This system includes two cameras capable of capturing 3D images and a GPS receiver.  Dennis van de Wouw, an electrical engineer from the Eindhoven University of Technology led the team behind this creation.

What it does is to compare the pre-taken images of the roads and the real-time photos of them to detect any difference. If the system finds out about anything indicating that roadside bombs have been buried, it will warn the soldiers on the vehicle. If it detects something it cannot identify, the soldiers will receive warnings too.

According to Dennis van de Wouw, when explosives are buried, the surrounding environment will be disturbed. The clues can be glass being tramped or bare areas without any vegetation. The real challenge here is to design a comparing system that can work in real-time.

The angles of the shots, the lighting and weather conditions of the pre-taken and current photos make the comparison harder to do.

When being tested by the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the smart camera system was able to identify all suspicious objects. Silvester de Bruin, the Ministry’s innovation advisor, the system could warn soldiers just in time for them to stop at a safe distance.