ACOUSTIC LANDMINE PRODDING INSTRUMENT WITH FORCE FEEDBACK

摘要

The present invention relates to an acoustic prodding implement for the detectio n of land mines which provides an indication of the material an object buried in the groun d. An indication of mineral material such as rock allows the operator to confidently c lassify the object as safe, without carefully excavating it. This saves significant time in mine clearing. The device includes a piezoelectric crystal as an acoustic transducer acoustically coupled to a transmitting probe. The piezoelectric transducer gener ates an acoustic wave into the probe which contacts the object and transmits the reflect ed wave. A signal processor compares a signal generated by the transducer with characteri stic signatures of known materials to determine a match within predetermined limits. The implement includes a shock resistant coupler to maintain acoustic coupling betwe en the transducer and the probe in response to shock or vibration. The implement may fu rther include a capacitive force sensor for providing an indication of a force at the tip of the probe as it is contacted with an object. The implement may further include a met al detector removeably supported on the probe.