LANDMINE DETECTION AIR VEHICLE
PROJECT
1. What is the product or service? —A Ground penetrating Radar (GPR) air vehicle: A detection
device that is highly sophisticated yet simple to operate. A system that is not held in hand, but is
operated wirelessly. A seamless scan due to an air vehicle that you need not to worry about. A
safe process with no earth or human contact. GPR can be used in a variety of media, including
rock, soil, ice, fresh water, pavements and structures. It can detect objects, changes in material,
and voids and cracks. A map with all key objects is finally shown.
2. What is the technology that underlies the product/service? —The product is based on an
innovative radar technology —that is Ground penetrating Radar (GPR). designed it to be with no
contact with earth surface unlike the typical GPR used now. It is a geophysical method that uses
radar waves to image the subsurface. This method detects the reflected signals from subsurface
structures. GPR can be used in a variety of media, including rock, soil, ice, fresh water, pavements
and structures. It can detect objects, changes in material, and voids and cracks.
3. How is underlying technology unique? —Ground-penetrating radar antennas are generally in
contact with the ground for the strongest signal strength. For use above the ground, GPR air
launched antennas can be used. However, those systems were very large and heavy to the extent
they were either fixed in location or installed on a van (bumper level). This rendered the whole
process as difficult, very costly and thus impractical. Our product offers the end to the misery
through a revolutionary invented architecture. The whole GPR technology is reinvented to over
the land surface usage through mounting the GPR over an air vehicle providing safety and speed
of scan. New GPR technology through fully functional prototype, mounted over an autopilot air
vehicle flying at 1.5 meters height over the ground surface. The new GPR architecture and air
vehicle in a fully integrated functional device with a cost represents around 12% from the
cheapest traditional GPR device found in the market. So the new architecture is not jut accurate,
efficient and effective, it is also economic. The whole platform can then be operated wirelessly
via various devices.
4. Is the product or service innovative? How? —YES, it is. Common detection systems use basic
detection technologies that are operated by man or robot. Even when sophisticated
technologies, such as GPR, are used, the device should be in complete contact with ground. In
order for us to implement a GPR module on a flying platform, a new radical system architecture
was designed. The GPR system was built along with a unique manufactured antenna component
that penetrates the ground from air. The air vehicle is designed with surveying and investigation
as the main task. Mounting GPR over an air vehicle, is expected to disrupt the subsurface imaging
radar industry, as the horizon is open for different to use models and applications. This new
technology will guarantee the safety, operability, and accuracy of the processed signal.
5. How would you define the best initial set of customers? (Who will buy it?) —believe that It’s a
born global product which will have no geographical barriers. The Government in general with
special focus on landmine detection, Petroleum & Gas companies for both pipe line as an asset
management tool and geological investigation for oil falls, and other governmental bodies
including (Ministries of Tourism, Agriculture, and Industry) will be interested in our technologies
and services. As we are geographically located in Egypt, we will start by our local market then
followed by regional market including North Africa, Gulf Council Countries and the rest of the
African content. Then we will go to Europe and the rest of the world.
6. What marketplace need does your product or service address better than any other option?
(Why will they buy it?) —It addresses Aerial geophysical surveying services, NAICS 541360/ SIC
8713. The mix of convenience, safety and accuracy does not exist inside this segment. Existing
solutions involve human resources (deminers), thus exposing the lives of deminers to danger, or
system to malfunction due to rough/ unleveled ground. Also, a flying system supported with a
wireless capabilities increases the time efficiency through an accurate and yet faster solution.
7. Describe how you create value for your customers. —This is accomplished through:
GPR mounted over an air vehicle is a dream, in which we make it a reality. Know we are able to
provide our customers with the same final quality they target in a completely safe, fast and
reliable solution. With our system, customers can survey/investigate areas they have never been
able to reach, thus accomplish tasks that have been impossible to be accomplished before by
using a completely safe, accurate, efficient solution and in a timeframe which is not comparable
with the traditional alternative solutions.
8. What is the market and its size? — As mentioned above the GPR air vehicle has a variety of
applications in different sectors, solving different client needs with the same technology and
application. In this section, we have decided to illustrate the details of one of the target markets,
which we believe that it has a high demand especially in Egypt and other Africa countries. This
market is the landmine detection. There are 120 million mines all over the world. Those create
multiple markets as military or private contractors. The areas most affected by land mines
include: Egypt (23 million, mostly in border regions); Angola (9-15 million); Iran (16 million);
Afghanistan (about 10 million); Iraq (10 million); China (10 million); Cambodia (up to 10 million);
Croatia (2 million); Somalia (up to 2 million in the North); Eritrea (1 million); and Sudan (1
million).
The ability to enter advanced new products into the detector market will be significantly affected
by the price elasticity of the market. Higher priced products at similar market volumes (inelastic
market) are more likely if
 The potential benefits of using the new equipment are significant. A product which could
improve the false alarm rate of current metal detectors by a factor of 10 could potentially
double the overall clearance rate, resulting in savings of the order of $280k or more per
square km. A proportion of such savings could be allocated to increased equipment costs
during project budgeting.
The detector market is likely to be dominated by the metal detector in the short term as it is widely
used, its strengths and limitations well understood, and deminer Standard Operating Procedures and
standards are adapted to its use. The market will become more fragmented by the introduction of
new technology products which meet the differing requirements and expectations of users in different
countries.
9. How do you anticipate developing IP protection/strategy for your technology? — —IP protection
strategy is focused in two parallel paths. The first is going through patenting our GPR air support
architecture. The second is the go-to market strategy, in which we are seriously considering the
proper go to market time to take the first mover advantage and do our best to set the market
dominant design through our solutions.
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