Landmines and other explosive remnants of war and civil conflict continue to pose a threat to human safety and development. These hidden devices can often lie dormant and undiscovered for years, deteriorating over time and becoming even more of a risk to life and limb.
In some cases, the positioning of landmines and other unexploded ordnance wasn't strategically mapped out, so some areas of former conflict don't have any records to help in the demining process. This means hidden dangers can exist during land reclamation or development work that involves disturbing the land.
Demining is the process of removing landmines and other explosive devices and ammunition from an area. It used to be very intensive, dangerous, and time-consuming. However, demining processes have improved over the years, and by using new technology, such as the mine roller and other demining tools and equipment developed by Armtrac, organizations and task forces can make the process safer and more efficient.
The Versatility of the Mine Roller System
Armtrac is a leading manufacturer of UGVs for demining and land clearing. Our Mine Roller is a particular favourite with our international clients as it provides a powerful and versatile solution for swiftly providing confidence of large swathes of land. It is especially ideal for route proving access roads to safely allow construction vehicles into areas of land earmarked for reclamation and redevelopment where landmines are suspected but not confirmed.
The Armtrac Roller system is inherently modular. This is key to its adaptability to different vehicles. Let's break down how the Armtrac mine roller system can be fitted to both crewed and uncrewed vehicles:
- Roller Banks: The system's core is the two roller banks. Each is a self-contained unit with seven rollers. They are designed to be interchangeable and easily replaceable in case of damage.
- Main Frame: The roller banks attach to a main frame. This frame has a mechanism for steering the roller banks and connection points for attaching them to the vehicle.
- Weight System: Depending on the vehicle, the system uses hydraulics from the host vehicle to apply downforce or uses its own self-weight system with additional weights.
Attachment to Vehicles
The system uses "vertically adjusted ratchets" with either "flange pins or D shackles" to connect to the prime mover (the vehicle it is attached to). This suggests a few things:
- Flexibility in Attachment Points: The ratchets likely allow for some adjustment in the height and angle of the attachment, accommodating different vehicle designs.
- Secure Connection: Flange pins or D shackles provide a strong, reliable connection that can withstand the forces involved in route proving operations.
- Relatively Quick Detachment: While a secure connection is vital, the system must also be detachable for maintenance or switching between vehicles. Using pins or shackles suggests this is possible without major tools or modifications.
Crewed vs Uncrewed Vehicles
When used on uncrewed or remote-controlled vehicles, such as the Armtrac 400 or A75T-230, the mine roller system cleverly uses the vehicle's existing hydraulic systems. This integration allows for a remarkable amount of downforce—up to 2000 Kg—to be exerted on the rollers, a critical factor in effectively detonating mines and other victim operated devices.
Furthermore, when not actively engaged in mine proving, the rollers can be conveniently lifted off the ground, in most cases employing the same hydraulic system. This enhances the vehicle's speed and manoeuvrability when negotiating challenging terrains.
On the other hand, crewed vehicles such as APCs and MBTs may not possess compatible hydraulic systems. To address this, the Armtrac Roller system uses its own self-weight mechanism, carrying additional weights to ensure adequate pressure is applied to the rollers. While this inevitably increases the vehicle's overall weight, it guarantees the necessary force for triggering potential mines and other victim operated devices. However, unlike the uncrewed variants, this self-weight system likely lacks a lifting mechanism, meaning the rollers remain in constant contact with the ground. This can affect the vehicle's speed and agility, but it's a trade-off considered less critical for these larger, heavily armoured vehicles.
Conclusion
The brilliance of the Armtrac Roller system lies in its adaptability. It is designed to be easily bolted onto a wide array of ground vehicles with minimal modifications. The attachment mechanism is both flexible and secure, while the weight system intelligently adjusts to the capabilities of the host vehicle. This ensures the system's effectiveness in proving for mines, regardless of whether it is attached to a crewed or uncrewed vehicle.
