Small robot takes on deadly threat of landmines

JStories ー Landmines, often called “the devil’s weapon” for their indiscriminate killing of soldiers and civilians alike, continue to threaten lives long after conflicts end. More than 100 million are still believed to be buried across some 60 countries worldwide. Clearing them is dangerous, often deadly, and their presence hinders social and economic recovery in post-conflict regions.

Seeking to change this, the Japanese venture IOS Inc. (Innovative Operations Systems Inc.), led by Kentaro Imai, has applied advanced robotics to the global demining challenge. Since 2017, the company has worked with Cambodia’s national demining authority, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), to develop the Demining Robot (DMR), completing five years of research and design. Field testing began in Cambodia in 2022, and IOS is now moving toward full-scale deployment. The goal: to make clearance “safer and faster” in the decades of work still ahead.

“I remember visiting Cambodia for the first time and seeing the reality of demining,” Imai recalled. “I thought, ‘This is far too dangerous for me to ever do myself.’ That experience made me determined to find some way we could contribute, using our own strengths. That motivation has stayed with me ever since.”

Traditional demining relies on two approaches. One uses large-scale machinery to dig up and destroy or disable mines. The other, still common in steep or overgrown areas where machines cannot operate, is excavation by hand.

Hand excavation is slow, labor-intensive, and extremely dangerous. At the current pace, experts estimate it could take over a thousand years to rid the world of landmines. Heavy equipment improves speed only in accessible areas. In more difficult terrain, manual methods remain the only option — an option fraught with risk.

IOS’s robot is built for these conditions. Operated remotely from a safe distance, the compact unit digs at suspected mine locations and exposes buried explosives without endangering human operators.

Instead of blades or shovels, it uses compressed air to blow away soil covering the mines. Since buried devices often shift over time, their triggers may not face upward, making manual digging especially perilous. By uncovering the casing and revealing the trigger’s direction, the DMR significantly improves safety during removal.

The compressed-air method has surprising origins. First developed in Japan for arborists to expose tree roots without damage, it was later adapted for soil decontamination after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. IOS has reengineered it once more for mine clearance, providing a careful alternative to shovels and heavy digging tools.

“I believe this technology can truly protect workers’ safety,” Imai said. “If safety and efficiency improve, demining will be faster, and the risks to local residents will also decline. If fewer people fall victim to accidents because of this machine, I will be very happy”.

While one unit costs around 10 million yen (about $68,000), it can operate for decades with minimal maintenance. However, effective adoption also requires changing long-established practices at demining sites. Gaining trust, providing careful explanations, and ensuring understanding among experienced deminers are as crucial as the technology itself. Funding and operational challenges also remain.

Even so, Imai is optimistic: “No one has ever applied compressed-air technology like this to landmines. Our robot is small, adaptable to many terrains, and expectations are high. The more people who get involved, the more the technology and business will grow. I hope more partners will join us.”

The effort to replace hand excavation with robotics has only just begun. Continued field data and proven results could pave the way for wider use.

Beyond safety, IOS is also confronting the question of what to do with cleared land. In many mine-affected regions, local economies are devastated. Residents often must choose to risk their lives demining or leave their villages to find work. Ensuring cleared land is used productively is essential for long-term recovery.

To that end, IOS has launched a project to replant former minefields with prickly pear cacti imported from Mexico. Partnering with professor Takanori Horibe of Chubu University, an expert in cactus research, the company hopes to spread cactus cultivation across rural Cambodia. The goal is to create new sources of income and raise living standards.

“Safety is of course the top priority,” Imai explained. “But we also want cleared land to support livelihoods and even create new industries. Prickly pear isn’t a mainstream crop, so it may be challenging as a business, but it has great potential.”

Prickly pear cacti are hardy, tolerate both drought and heavy rain, and need far less water than rice or corn. They can be used as livestock feed or processed into cosmetic oils. They also store large amounts of carbon, helping reduce greenhouse gases.

If successful, the project could not only boost food production but also contribute to addressing global challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity. It may even offer a model for rural development in post-conflict areas.

Translated by Anita De Michele | JStories

Edited by Mark Goldsmith

Top photo: Photo courtesy of IOS Inc. 

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