U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A cadet brother team developed an electronic wire stabilization and cutting tool that could revolutionize explosive ordnance operations.
Military members are put at risk during explosive ordnance operations as they disarm improvised explosive devices. Cadets 1st Class Gunnar and Simon Gott’s project introduces additional tools for EOD technicians. It offers safer capabilities to approach IED situations to potentially reduce associated risks and hazards through remote operations. The brothers’ success is an example of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s mission of developing leaders of character who generate innovative and inspirational research to support warfighters. Both cadets are majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and their project could become the latest in a long line of Academy patents.
Read more…
Source: U.S. Air Force Academy
Sign up for Counter-IED Report Newsletter
Related:
- Characterization and differentiation of aluminum powders used in improvised explosive devices
March 16, 2025
Determining the extent to which sources of aluminum (Al) powders, often used as fuel in improvised explosive devices (IEDs), can be differentiated is important for forensic investigations and gathering intelligence. Previous work developed effective methods of characterizing Al powders using micromorphometric features of the Al particles and a multistage sampling approach. Since then, ~100 additional samples ...
- Ukraine needs almost US$30 billion for mine clearance
February 27, 2025
Ukraine requires US$29.8 billion to clear the war-affected areas of landmines and other explosive ordnance. Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, citing an assessment by the Fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4) conducted by the World Bank, the government of Ukraine, the European Union and the United Nations. The Ministry of Economy has lowered the estimated cost ...
- Ukraine to establish AI-assisted demining test site
February 25, 2025
Ukraine has begun developing a testing site for the use of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies in mine action. The Defence Ministry and its partners have identified a location for a testing ground dedicated to demining technologies. Representatives of the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety, the United Nations Development Programme, ...
- Cadets aim to make explosive ordnance operations safer
January 28, 2025
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A cadet brother team developed an electronic wire stabilization and cutting tool that could revolutionize explosive ordnance operations. Military members are put at risk during explosive ordnance operations as they disarm improvised explosive devices. Cadets 1st Class Gunnar and Simon Gott’s project introduces additional tools for EOD technicians. It offers ...
- ADF Specialised facility counters IED threats
December 20, 2024
Gallipoli Barracks was recently the scene for an inspection of one of the ADFs new level two counter-IED weapons technical intelligence (L2 WTI) laboratories being delivered by Project Land 154-2 in association with the Defence Science and Technology Group. Each L2 WTI facility is a self-contained containerised and deployable processing facility that allows ADF personnel to ...
- Norway Provides Ukrainian Navy With $240M for Minehunting and Autonomy
December 16, 2024
On Monday, the Norwegian government announced a new grant of about $240 million to support Ukraine’s navy in its fight against Russian forces in the Black Sea. The grant includes financing for the joint Norwegian/British Maritime Capability Coalition, a capacity-building partnership for Ukraine’s naval forces. The Maritime Capability Coalition’s centerpiece was the transfer of two Royal ...
- Europol: Terrorists exploiting global tensions
December 12, 2024
Terrorists continue to adapt their methods and narratives to exploit global events, digital technology, and societal vulnerabilities. The EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (EU TE-SAT) 2024, published today by Europol, provides a detailed overview of the evolving terrorism landscape in the European Union in 2023. In today’s changing world, terrorist actors are continuously adapting their ...
- Leveraging new technology for a mine-free future
December 9, 2024
The devastating legacy of armed conflict – often marked by the indiscriminate use of landmines, improvised explosive devices and other explosive ordnance – poses a significant humanitarian challenge. Innovation in mine action With over 25 years of experience, UNOPS has the largest operational mine action capability in the UN system. This vast expertise has given us ...
- An autonomous microbial sensor enables long-term detection of TNT explosive in natural soil
December 2, 2024
Engineered microbes can sense target chemicals and respond with programmed actions, using cell sensors to detect specific chemicals and genetic circuits to convert regulatory signals into observable outcomes1,2,3. Microbial sensors have the potential to carry out autonomous, long-term environmental monitoring inside complex environments, such as soil systems or the human gut, without the need for ...
- CBRN Dismounted Reconnaissance System Reaches FOC
November 20, 2024
The Joint Project Manager for CBRN Sensors team completed fielding of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal variant of our CBRN Dismounted Reconnaissance System (CBRN DRS) to the U.S. Army in October 2024. The CBRN DRS provides detection, decontamination, and protective equipment for CBRN reconnaissance missions in difficult-to-access areas. The CBRN DRS is designed to support operational and ...
- U.S. Marines Bring New Capabilities to International Naval Exercise
November 14, 2024
The U.S. Marine Corps participated in their first Phoenix Express exercise Nov. 5-15 bringing new capabilities to critical maritime security operations training. The Marines, from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (8th ESB EOD) and Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (H&S Battalion, 2nd MLG), introduced a range ...
- India: Digital University Kerala researchers develop mine-detection technology
November 8, 2024
A team of researchers from the Digital University Kerala (DUK) have come up with a technology to detect buried explosives with minimum human involvement. The technology can be put to use even in the most rugged and forested areas, thereby, reducing risk for people involved in de-mining and also clearing large areas in the shortest time. ...
- U.S. DOD Developing CHAPPIE for CBRN Defense
November 7, 2024
The Department of Defense has introduced CHAPPIE, a quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicle, or QUGV, being developed for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear—a.k.a. CBRN—field operations. The U.S. Space Force said Tuesday CHAPPIE is one of two QUGVs at the Buckley Space Force Base repurposed for CBRN operations. CHAPPIE is an unmanned system that is enhanced with remote CBRN ...
- Laser vibration sensing technology can detect landmines faster than previous techniques
October 31, 2024
Enough landmines are buried underground worldwide to circle Earth twice at the equator, but the identification and removal of these explosives is costly and time-consuming. Vyacheslav Aranchuk, principal scientist in the National Center for Physical Acoustics, presented his research on laser multibeam vibration sensor technology at the Optica Laser Congress and Exhibition, held last week in ...
- Kenya: Two university students innovate robot IED detector to help in war on terrorism
October 21, 2024
Two Technical University of Mombasa students have innovated a bomb detector robot that can be used in insecurity prone areas like Lamu. The innovation is such that the robot car, which can be remotely controlled, can be used as a lead car in a patrol or convoy to detect any explosive devices. It uses special rays ...
- TSA: Tri-agency collaboration printing outside the lines
October 21, 2024
Louisiana Lead Explosives Specialist and Innovation Officer Mike Nelson’s invention puts new field explosive screening kits at the tips of officers’ fingers. The unassuming holder neatly organizes and conveniently dispenses supply kits used in the screening protocol for explosive trace detection (ETD) at the checkpoint. The need was basic, but the simple product projected a polished, ...
- Ukraine: USD 70 million, demining equipment and support for innovative projects announced at UMAC 2024
October 18, 2024
During the annual Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2024 (UMAC-2024), partner countries announced additional commitments to support humanitarian demining worth almost 70 million in dollar terms. Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada announced additional pledges. The total contribution of partners to humanitarian demining since 2022 has amounted to USD 1 billion 70 million. “Thanks to this systematic ...
- AI’s Role in Mine Action, A Glimpse Into the Future
October 17, 2024
Attending the recent Innovation Session: Artificial Intelligence for Mine Action in Geneva the previous week, hosted by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), was both humbling and inspiring. As experts from across the globe gathered to share insights, it became clear that the intersection of cutting-edge technology and humanitarian work is no longer a ...
- Munitions Modernization: The Family of Drone Munitions
October 17, 2024
The Army Modernization Strategy outlines how the Service will become a multidomain force capable of operating across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains by 2035. As part of the strategy to deliver a force capable of multidomain operations, the strategy outlines six critical modernization efforts: long-range precision fires, next-generation combat vehicles, future vertical-lift aircraft, ...
- UNDP identifies most promising innovative approaches to financing mine action in Ukraine
October 15, 2024
The issuance of thematic bonds linked to sustainable development and result-oriented public-private partnerships are the most promising innovative tools for financing mine action in Ukraine. This is stated in a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) based on the results of a study commissioned by the Ministry of Economy. “Our partners estimate that USD ...
- NATO Chief Scientist launches Grants Programme to foster global security innovation
October 14, 2024
NATO has officially launched its Chief Scientist Grants Programme, dedicated to fostering excellence in science and technology research. In total, 500,000 euros will support research projects focused on advancing science and contributing to global security. Researchers from NATO member countries are invited to apply, with grants ranging from 25,000 euros to 100,000 euros. These will support ...
- U.S. Navy EOD develops IED exploitation capabilities with NATO Allies and partners at Northern Challenge 2024
October 9, 2024
KEFLAVIK, Iceland – Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 operated alongside 17 NATO Ally and partner nations at Exercise Northern Challenge 2024, Sept. 26-Oct. 9, 2024. Northern Challenge demonstrates the United States’ commitment to NATO Allies and partners by integrating efforts to plan and execute complex EOD detection, neutralization, and exploitation capabilities within a multinational ...