Japan Dr. Kenzo Nonami Colonel Takaaki Tachibana provided an overview of Japanese assistance in mine action. He noted that although Japan does not suffer from landmine contamination it recognizes the importance of mine action in Asia and believes that mine clearance is an area in which Japan can make a substantial contribution from government, the private sector and civil society. Japan’s interest in mine action can be traced from the 1997 Ottawa process where Japan introduced the Zero Victims program and pledged to provide 10 billion yen over the next five year period. To date, Japan has contributed $16.2 million. In Afghanistan, Japan has responded to the urgent need for equipment with $15 million and is providing victim assistance and mine awareness in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Dr. Kenzo Nonami discussed the potential contribution that Japan can make through technological development. Mines buried several tens of centimeters underground are not easy to detect and dispose of. Since mines are intended to wound or kill, there must be a reliable use of technologies to make efficient clearance possible. The Science Council of Japan established a subcommittee in August 1999 to develop ways to use Japan’s technology for humanitarian demining. Proposals were submitted in February 2000 and the first workshop was held in April 2001. One promising area lies in developing sensor technologies that marry electro-magnetic with ground penetrating radar. Tests performed in Cambodia demonstrate that these lightweight detectors have fewer false alarms than conventional metal detectors. Robotics also provides potential applicability to mine clearance. Several different robot models were discussed including autonomous locomotion robots, snake robots, six-legged robots and unmanned sky ships (radio controlled helicopters). The COMETII robot was demonstrated by videotape. It features a marking device and autonomous obstacle avoidance control. It recognizes a dangerous area after detection and will avoid tripping a mine. The COMETIII is in production. The sky ship was also demonstrated in the video. It is lightweight and can be loaded in a compact car, significantly reducing transportation costs. Dr. Nonami also discussed brush-cutting technologies. Yamanashi Hitachi Construction machinery has been demonstrated in Cambodia, Afghanistan and Nicaragua. The Koatsu PC60-7 can cut a tree up to 20 cm in diameter and has also been proven in the field. Although Japan is a recent entry in the field of mine clearance technology, it expects to make a significant contribution through its superior technological development. Dr. Shigeo Hirose made several points concerning robotic potential for use in demining operations including:
The TITAN IX, not yet fully operational, will be able to function by walking or rolling. Where terrain is smooth, it can roll (a faster method of locomotion) and when terrain is rougher it can walk. Other types of robots covered included dinosaur types which are very stable (the tail functions as a tripod); the hyper tether which can connect to a vehicle and cut brush in a wide area; and a probe with a vibration sensor. These are not yet developed for humanitarian demining. |
