In Ukraine, they have developed the ST1 aerial drone designed for mine detection. This was announced on Friday, October 27th, by the Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov.
Currently, the experimental prototype of the drone is being tested by developers in field conditions. It is claimed that, on average, the ST1 operates four times faster than a human.
The Ukrainian specialized drone was created as part of the Brave1 cluster, which serves as the sole coordination platform for the development of defense technologies.
The ST1 is a quadcopter equipped with special technology necessary for mine detection. The drone is intended to fly over mined areas under the control of an operator who remains at a safe distance.
"The ST1 is equipped with an inductive coil and sensors that allow it to navigate obstacles at low altitudes," Fedorov explained.
According to him, the drone is equipped with a powerful microcomputer that processes data and transmits it to sappers in real-time mode.
Fedorov also mentioned that, on average, the ST1 operates four times faster than a human.
The use of such drones by Ukrainian pyrotechnicians is expected to significantly expedite the demining process in Ukrainian territories and make it safer for individuals.
"For example, rescuers from the State Emergency Service, the Armed Forces, and the National Police will be able to control the drone and search for mines from a safe location," the Deputy Prime Minister added.
Developers are actively testing the ST1 in field conditions. The team is collecting feedback on the product, working on improvements, and preparing for production scaling.