Defence Pal: A Prototype of Smart Wireless Robotic Sensing System for Landmine and Hazard Detection

Landmines remain a significant hazard in contemporary warfare and post-conflict areas, jeopardizing the safety of both civilians and military personnel. This work suggests “Defence Pal,” a cost-effective and portable robotic prototype for landmine detection and environmental monitoring. Its primary objective is to minimize human risk while improving detection speed and accuracy. The system consists of a wireless-controlled vehicle equipped with a metal detector, gas sensors, and obstacle avoidance features, enabling real-time terrain surveillance while ensuring operator safety. Built with components including a Flysky FS-i6 transmitter and receiver, the prototype was tested under hazardous conditions. It demonstrated reliable detection of buried metallic objects and dangerous gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. The autonomous response system halts the robot and activates visual and auditory alarms upon detecting threats. Our experiments achieved average detection accuracies of 83% for metallic objects and 87% for hazardous gases, validating their performance. These results highlight the practicality and effectiveness of Defence Pal compared to conventional manual detection methods. The results confirm that Defence Pal is a practical, scalable, and cost-effective alternative to traditional manual detection methods for improving landmine identification and environmental hazard monitoring. Therefore, the novelty of this work lies in a low-cost dual-sensing prototype that enables simultaneous detection of gas and metal, providing a practical alternative to conventional single-target, high-cost systems.