  In order to clear the world of the threat posed by landmines and other
explosive devices, robotic systems can play an important role. However, the
development of such field robots that need to operate in hazardous conditions
requires the careful consideration of multiple aspects related to the
perception, mobility, and collaboration capabilities of the system. In the
framework of a European challenge, the Artificial Intelligence for Detection of
Explosive Devices - eXtended (AIDEDeX) project proposes to design a
heterogeneous multi-robot system with advanced sensor fusion algorithms. This
system is specifically designed to detect and classify improvised explosive
devices, explosive ordnances, and landmines. This project integrates
specialised sensors, including electromagnetic induction, ground penetrating
radar, X-Ray backscatter imaging, Raman spectrometers, and multimodal cameras,
to achieve comprehensive threat identification and localisation. The proposed
system comprises a fleet of unmanned ground vehicles and unmanned aerial
vehicles. This article details the operational phases of the AIDEDeX system,
from rapid terrain exploration using unmanned aerial vehicles to specialised
detection and classification by unmanned ground vehicles equipped with a
robotic manipulator. Initially focusing on a centralised approach, the project
will also explore the potential of a decentralised control architecture, taking
inspiration from swarm robotics to provide a robust, adaptable, and scalable
solution for explosive detection.
