SpaceApps successfully kicked-off of the AIDEDEX project (Artificial Intelligence for Detection of Explosive Devices – Extended), an initiative selected for funding from the European Union to continue the work on the detection and classification of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), Explosive Ordnance (EO) and landmines through the integration of state-of-the-art sensors, autonomous robots, and advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms.
The concept of AIDEDex relies on the strong foundations of the predecessor project AIDED in which the consortium carried out the core research and technology development, offering a solid base for a highly reliable platform in AIDEDex. Data from a large suite of sensors such as Electro-Magnetic Inference (EMI), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), X-Ray Backscatter Imaging (XRB), Raman Spectrometer, Infrared Cameras, Multispectral Cameras and Chemical will be used in combinations with data fusion to determine the position and type of the explosive with a maximum accuracy while minimising every risk.
A fleet of mixed Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) and Aerial (UAV) will operate in different scenarios, from open space fields to more risky closed environments and urban scenarios. The ‘system of systems’ aims at participation and evaluation in the EDF challenge with 3 other similar projects. These systems will be autonomous intelligent systems capable of merging sensor data and making decisions independently, advancing traditional human-operated or teleoperated approaches. It will be able to plan the mission in complete autonomy, receiving just the perimeter of the area to explore and high level goals. This addresses challenges such as GNSS denied areas and the complexities of coordinating multiple robots.
AIDEDex is being coordinated by Space Applications Services, with the participation of other companies throughout Europe; Royal Military Academy (Belgium), CATEC (Spain), CTRO (Croatia), Lightnovo (Denmark) and Fraunhofer (Germany).
The AIDEDex project has received funding from the European Defence Fund under grant agreement EDF-2022-LS-RA-CHALLENGE-AIDEDEX:101121399
