All-Purpose Remote Transport System (ARTS). Capabilities Demonstration, 24-26 September 2001
Abstract
The Department of State estimates that 80-110 million mines litter the world, the majority of which were deployed during the last 15 years. Several efforts are underway that address the current land mine problem. The United States established the Demining Assistance Program to initiate research and development into cost effective demining techniques. The Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program at Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD), Fort Belvoir, VA is tasked with executing this program. In one response to this tasking, commercial companies were invited to provide a capabilities demonstration of their mechanical equipment that can suitably address either one or both of the mine and/or the vegetation problems in humanitarian demining operations. The purpose of this system capabilities demonstration was to obtain information on non-developmental Mechanical Mine and/or Vegetation Clearing Systems that can demonstrate some or all of the following capabilities. 1) Support a variety of interchangeable tools capable of performing the diverse tasks involved with working in landmine suspect areas, i.e., mulchers, sifters, grinders, rakes, etc. 2) Clear a minimum of 200m /hour of light to medium vegetation and cut 10cm diameter trees and brush. 3) Be capable of on-road and off-road operations in all types of weather and terrain. 4) Be capable of self-transport (less attachment) for distances less than 30km without destroying roads or bridges. 5) Be capable of destroying or removing landmines by grinding, sifting, raking, flailing, etc. 6) The system must be transportable, reliable, maintainable, and logistically supportable in third world mine affected countries. 7) Demonstrate the feasibility of protecting the system and operator, if applicable, with appliqu armor to withstand a blast equivalent to a .56kg (TNT) bounding fragmentation mine at 2 meters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA461841