Compact Magnetic-Sensor Units for Detecting Mines

Compact, low-power-consumption magnetic-sensor units called "integrated sensor system" (ISS) units are being developed for detecting buried mines and arsenals without exposing human searchers to unnecessary danger. The fully developed ISS units would be mass produced at relatively low cost, so that they could be deployed in large numbers and regarded as disposable. Many ISS units would be dispersed onto a mine field from a low-flying aircraft. After a specified time, the ISS units would transmit magnetic-field- and attitude-measurement data to the same or different aircraft for processing. Analysis of the data would reveal local deformations of the Earth's magnetic field, indicative of the magnetic dipole moments of mines and other objects.