Pelacakan drone, robot penjinakan bom

◎Media Correspondent Zhang Qiang

Correspondent Song Qiang Huang ZiHan

Unmanned detection, precise positioning, rapid ordnance disposal… Recently, in a live-action integrated drill by a certain brigade of the 71st Group Army, the training is underway in a tense manner. The servicemen and women operate drones and explosive ordnance disposal robots to quickly and accurately neutralize multiple unexploded ordnance within the task area in complex terrain, successfully completing the mission of opening a route.

At the command from the command post, the operator Wang Yikun decisively activated the drone to move forward for reconnaissance within the task area, and used a magnetic detection system for scanning identification of metallic unexploded ordnance in low-altitude airspace, marking their positions. The high-definition footage and positioning data were synchronized and transmitted in real time to the large display screen in the command post, making the originally complex battlefield situation clearly visible.

“Compared with traditional human reconnaissance, using drones is faster and covers a wider area.” During a break in the drill, the commander of the demolition team, Bi Yongkang, pointed to the images on the large screen and explained that in past combat operations, human reconnaissance not only had low efficiency, but also required reconnaissance personnel to face potential danger.

This drill was the first to adopt coordinated destruction of unexploded ordnance by drones and ordnance disposal robots. “The location of the unexploded ordnance has been confirmed; deploy the ordnance disposal robot forward for ordnance disposal.” Upon receiving the order, the third-class sergeant Hu Qianghui focused intently, remotely controlled the robot to move forward to ascertain the specific situation of the unexploded ordnance, and operated the mechanical arm to clamp a brush to remove the soil covering the unexploded ordnance. At the same time, the drone remained circling in the air, providing the ordnance disposal robot with real-time positioning and environmental monitoring. After everything was ready, Hu Qianghui remotely controlled the ordnance disposal robot, and with the drone’s coordination set up a non-contact directional explosive energy concentrator for destruction. With a resounding “boom,” the unexploded ordnance was successfully destroyed, and the route-opening mission was completed smoothly.

Hu Qianghui admitted: “Traditional ordnance disposal methods require personnel to approach unexploded ordnance; the preparation time is long, the operation procedures are many, and safety risks are high. If you’re even slightly careless, it may lead to an accident.”

Nowadays, unmanned intelligent equipment has become an important role in modern warfare. The brigade has focused on tackling the key and difficult issues in ordnance disposal through innovative breakthroughs, and has explored an unmanned cooperative combat method of “drone positioning, robot ordnance disposal,” effectively solving the problem of manual ordnance disposal. This long-distance, non-contact ordnance disposal approach can handle situations where ordnance disposal is difficult for humans, such as complex terrain and harsh weather, significantly improving the safety and efficiency of ordnance disposal.

“By using this new combat method, it can better adapt to complex combat environments, producing an effect far greater than ‘2’—the ‘1+1’ outcome.” Speaking about the new changes at the training ground, the brigade leadership introduced that to ensure technological innovation is promptly transformed into combat capability of the forces, they carefully planned, selected technical backbones and professional backbones to form a team to carry out campaign tactics and training tactics research. From becoming familiar with and mastering equipment to integrating and innovating tactics, from theoretical simulations to on-site testing, the servicemen and women fought day and night, incorporating the new equipment into tactical training and joint drills at the earliest opportunity, and explored and innovated multiple combat methods and training methods in succession.

Bi Yongkang, an officer of the demolition team, said that this drill helps explore the practical application of unmanned equipment in combat operations, supporting the continuous improvement of the unit’s ability to accomplish diverse military tasks.

Combat methods and training tactics must not only keep innovating, but also stand up to battlefield testing. During the drill, the brigade arranged personnel specifically to collect training data and assess the practical usefulness of the combat methods and tactics. Next, the brigade will focus on more than 10 subjects, such as the rapid cooperative route construction with drones, to gather ideas and conduct intensive breakthroughs.