GEON E61 Makes Perfect Score During Testing in Ukraine
To the satisfaction of experts in Ukraine, the GEON E61 system, during testing conducted in October, proved itself capable of efficiently and safely detecting landmines and other explosive objects.
A non-governmental organization dedicated to the sustainable development and security of Ukrainian lands carried out the testing; it had been retained by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU).
SESU is an executive body of the Ukrainian government whose responsibilities include civil defense and the protection of people and territories during emergencies. It manages much of the demining work that is taking place in Ukraine.
SESU representatives witnessed the testing, which was conducted at a range that had been sown with explosive devices. In two flights over variable terrain, the GEON E61 detected 25 of 25 planted devices, some of which were on the surface and others that were buried. High grass covered much of the test area and obstacles including trees, logs and bushes were present.
“The GEON E61 is the only tool that has ever found 100% of the test items on this course,” enthused Tobias Leininger, the chief technical officer and a co-founder at ArroTech, the developer of the drone/metal detector. “This is a big achievement that will help us get recognized as a provider of a reliable system. An endorsement from SESU is very significant.”
In a third flight, the autonomous drone detected objects from a height of 1.3 to 1.4 meters, demonstrating its suitability for use in croplands and brushy areas. Again, all planted objects were detected.
“GEON E61 proved its high efficiency and automation,” concluded Ivanov Pavlo Serhiyovych of the supervising NGO.
He noted in a report provided to SESU that the planted explosive devices included a PFM-1 mine, the so-called butterfly mine, which descends slowly like a maple seed when dropped from aircraft, preventing its detonation upon landing.
While Serhiyovych saw the drone’s stability in flight, its performance in gusty conditions, and the GEON E61’s detection of non-test objects as possible concerns, Leininger said those issues have been addressed with the system’s design and capabilities.
He explained that the drone is bottom heavy, making for stable flight. He added that the system’s metal detector hangs from the drone like a pendulum, and its position relative to the ground is controlled by software.
The GEON E61 is a metal detector, not just a mine detector, and as such will locate objects that are not explosives.
“It’s what the system does,” Leininger said. “It is much better to find all metal objects in an area than just some of them. Found items that may be explosive must be examined to determine if they are dangerous.
“By applying filters to the data, we can eliminate items smaller than the mines and ordnance we are looking for. All kinds of information can be extracted from the data.”
Leininger, noting GEON E61’s sophistication, pointed out that the system assigns a value to found objects that represents the extent of the metal they contain. This feature makes it possible to differentiate, for example, between anti-tank and anti-personnel mines.
SESU maintains pyrotechnic units that are engaged in the detection and disposal of explosive ordnance and regularly posts reports of their activity on its website.
One such report, posted Nov. 19, said SESU units, in a 24-hour period, had detected, removed and disposed of 190 pieces of ordnance.
The report notes that since the beginning of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, SESU teams have disposed of 544,452 pieces of explosive ordnance and 2,966 kilograms of explosives.
SESU operates under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs; its motto is “To prevent. To rescue. To help.”
Given the success of the tests conducted in October, ArroTech demonstrated that it can assist SESU in preventing deaths, rescuing farmlands from non-productivity and helping to restore Ukraine’s agricultural economy.
