In recent years, the conflict in Ukraine has shown that scatterable-mines are being deployed to disrupt allies and their combat capabilities on the ground. The use of ‘Air Delivered Scatterable Minefields’ can completely immobilise ground platforms, causing disruption to armoured vehicle convoys and formations. In response, and to anticipate the increased use of this type of counter-mobility obstacle, British engineering company Pearson Engineering recently showcased its ‘Threat-Pathway’ and ‘Threat-Sense’ systems.
The technology behind Threat-Sense, the detection component of the two systems, uses a mix of visual and thermal cameras to identify the mines which have been deployed and attaches a confidence rating to the identification.
DSSI recently sat down with representatives from Pearson Engineering to understand how significant the threat of air scatterable mines are in a near peer conflict, and the role of AI and algorithm learning will play in protecting and ensuring front line forces are mobile when facing modern adversary threats.
DSSI:-
We recently saw Pearson Engineering showcase its new Threat-Pathway & Threat-Sense platform. Could you firstly explain a bit about the threat of scatterable mines to armoured vehicles and its threat in a future conflict?
Pearson Engineering:-
We’re seeing and hearing a lot about air delivered scatterable minefields at the moment. They are used to immobilise individual platforms, formations, and convoys, rendering them vulnerable to artillery and ultimately, preventing the intended mission from going ahead. Their impact on armoured vehicles was seen recently in the Donbass region of Ukraine where troops were fixed in position and were then hit by long range precision fires. In addition, in this instance some of these scatterable mines fell into neighbouring agricultural land and civilian areas. Without means of escape and without humanitarian clearance activities, scatterable-mines are a real threat to life and to maintaining operational tempo.
DSSI:-
How does the role of artificial intelligence (AI) technology for armoured vehicles play its role when dealing with scatterable mine threats in the field?
Pearson Engineering:-
One way to mitigate the threat of air delivered mines, which often find themselves nestled in road contours or among shrubs, is to know exactly where they are so they can simply be avoided. We use artificial intelligence technology to teach algorithms how to identify surface laid mines and to provide a confidence level relating to their type. This allows Commanders to understand what they are faced with, and importantly to ‘sense’ mines which may not be visible, for example in bad weather, poor lighting or at night.
DSSI:-
Can the Threat-Pathway and Threat-Sense system interpret what types of mines are ahead, how does it recognise the device?
Pearson Engineering:-
Our product, Threat-Sense, has been taught how to identify certain types of mines to build up a library of intelligence which allows it to provide an indication of what lies ahead with a displayed percentage accuracy. Using different visual and thermal cameras to see objects, it has been taught in different types of conditions to interpret shapes, thermal patterns, and characteristics to understand the object being seen. It works in a similar way to facial recognition software and can be taught to identify different types of mines or ground sign dependent on the threat at the time. It can be easily updated as and when needed if the threat profile changes. Threat-Pathway is a lightweight, surface laid mine displacement capability which allows vehicles to push through these mines if needed.
DSSI:-
As a designer, why is it important to reduce the cognitive burden on soldiers?
Pearson Engineering:-
We provide solutions to enable Commanders to manoeuvre and concentrate mass to places of their choosing. Battlefield mobility is often gained defeating mines and other explosive ordnance and so our equipment is used where there is a direct threat to life and to mission success. We see it as core to our product development to ensure that we do not unnecessarily increase the information burden on soldiers, but rather provide them with intuitive intelligence and tools that allow them to survive, move and fight. We provide mobility and counter-mobility equipment to ensure that vehicles and their crew survive in order to ‘carry on’ irrespective of the obstacle they face.
DSSI:-
The automated learning algorithms of Threat-Sense is impressive, what other features does the system offer?
Pearson Engineering:-
Threat-Sense is only part of the solution. In many cases, understanding what the potential risks ahead are is enough when fully supported by Armoured Engineers. However, the pairing of Threat-Sense with our product Threat-Pathway provides a real tactical advantage to all vehicles and not just combat vehicles. Where scatterable-mines and other obstacles are found, Threat-Pathway can be quickly deployed from its low profile, stowed position to push aside surface laid explosive ordnance.
