Robotic mowers for mined fields were tested in Ukraine

At one of Ukraine's training grounds, new technological solutions were tested to help sappers work more efficiently in mined fields covered with thick grass and bushes. This was reported by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.

As part of the "Safe Field" hackathon, organized by the Ministry of Economy together with the Kyiv School of Economics, four teams of Ukrainian developers presented their robotic mower projects. The tests were aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of these machines in real conditions.

Developments ranged from robotic tractors to multi-platforms capable of mowing through thick vegetation. An important requirement for the machines was their ability to operate remotely and be cost-effective to manufacture so that in the event of a mine detonation they could be quickly replaced. The price of the presented projects ranged from 5.5 thousand to 19.5 thousand US dollars per unit.

Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Ihor Bezkaravainy noted that the hackathon was a response to the request of Ukrainian sappers working in the eastern and southern regions of the country. They need remote-controlled low-cost mowers for faster and safer demining.

"A trained and trained sapper should work with a minesweeper and a probe, and not manually cut grass and bushes until the calluses on the fingers," Ihor Bezkaravainy emphasized. He also noted that the task of the machines is to perform the work that can be done safely, freeing sappers from dangerous and exhausting tasks.

The presented projects of robotic mowers are designed not only to increase the safety of sappers, but also to speed up the demining process, which is extremely important for the restoration of peaceful life in mined areas. The use of such technologies will contribute to the reduction of risks and losses among specialists who risk their lives every day, clearing the land of mines.

Hackathon "Safe Field" became a platform for discussing innovative solutions and sharing experience between developers, specialists and government representatives. Successful implementation of the developments will significantly improve the working conditions of sappers and increase the efficiency of demining in Ukraine.