TESTING OF THE DEMINING MACHINE MINEWOLF

Transcription

1 REPUBLIC OF CROATIA CROATIAN MINE ACTION CENTRE TESTING, DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING CENTRE TESTING OF THE DEMINING MACHINE MINEWOLF Ivan Šteker, M.Sc. Sisak, May 2005

2 CONTENTS page 1. TECHNICAL DATA FOR THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE The «MINEWOLF» demining machine description Technical data on the «MINEWOLF» machine PLAN OF THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE TESTING Plan of the developmental testing of the «MINEWOLF» machine Plan of the operational testing of the «MINEWOLF» machine THE PROGRESS OF THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE TESTING The progress of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing with antipersonnel mines The progress of the machine testing on test lanes The progress of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on mine suspected areas (MSAs) Deminers' inspection of the MSA processed by the machine List of the participants of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing RESULTS OBTAINED DURING THE TESTING Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing with antipersonnel mines Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on the test lanes of a training ground Results of the operational testing of the «MINEWOLF» machine DRAFT OF THE USABILITY EVALUATION OF THE «MINEWOLF» DEMINING MACHINE

3 1. TECHNICAL DATA FOR THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE 1.1. Description of the «MINEWOLF» demining machine The «MINEWOLF» demining machine is located in the demining company «MKA*DEMING» ltd.-čakovec. The machine is manufactured by the company «MINEWOLF Systems» GmbH, Koblenz, Germany. It was built in 2003 and until now, it worked in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia during 2003 and 2004, and it processed a total of m 2 of mine suspected areas. The weight of the machine is 20 tones, plus a 4,8 tone flail or a 4,5 tone tiller. The machine has two changeable working tools: a flail and a tiller. The machine moves on caterpillars. It has a DEUTZ BF8 M 1015 engine, with a power of 367 KS (270 kw). The working tools are hydrostatically powered. The machine is operated directly from the cabin. The cabin of the machine is constructed in a special way and armoured by HARDOX 400, AM 500T plates that are 5, 10 and 15 mm thick, while the protective mirror glasses are 54 mm thick. The «MKA*DEMING» ltd.-čakovec demining company provided the documentation about a former «MINEWOLF» demining machine testing done in Germany, on military training grounds, organized by the German Federal Military Forces, Technical Centre for Arms and Ammunition. The testing scope corresponds to our Programme, so the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on antitank mines, testing of the noise in the cabin and of the machine acceleration are not repeated since the results indicated by the German tests are satisfactory. The delivered documentation of the former testing is in German and in Croatian. On April 6, 2005, based on the request for testing and the delivered documentation, the lcommittee for Machine Testing of CROMAC made the decision to test the «MINEWOLF» demining machine. The «MINEWOLF» machine testing plan and the programme are drafted according to the «Programme of testing and usability evaluation of the machines used for the humanitarian demining tasks» (NN- 138 from September 02, 2003). Figure 1 «MINEWOLF» machine on a transporting vehicle 3

4 1.2. Technical data of the «MINEWOLF» machine «MINEWOLF» machine dimensions Machine length with caterpillars mm Machine length with flail mm Machine length with tiller mm Machine width with caterpillars mm Machine width with flail mm Machine width with tiller mm Machine height with cabin mm Machine height without cabin mm Machine weight (without tools) around 20 tones Weight flail ,80 tones Weight tiller ,50 tones Engine type DEUTZ BF8M 1015 Engine performance kw (367 KS) Engine fuel type D-2 Fuel tank capacity litres Average fuel consumption l/h Machine frame number Flail number Tiller number Working tools tiller and flail Flail width mm Flail diameter mm Number of chains Distance between chains mm Hammer shape «mushroom» Flail chain length with hammer mm Tiller width mm Tiller rotor diameter mm Number of chisels on tiller pieces Distance between chisels on tiller mm Armoured protection of machine HARDOX 400, 5, 10 and 15 mm thick Protective glass thickness mm Machine motion caterpillars Specific caterpillar pressure on the ground... 0,53 kg/cm 2 Flail drive hydrostatic, hydraulic pumps Machine speed Transporting km/h Operating ,8 1,5 km/h Soil tilling depth cm Rotating direction of the tools back and forth Machine control: Directly from cabin remote control device Possibility of longitudinal slope surmounting

5 Possibility of transversal slope surmounting Self recovery winch yes Figure 2 «MINEWOLF» machine driving out of a transporting device Service equipment for maintenance and smaller repairs of the «MINEWOLF» demining machine, as well as spare disposable parts are placed in a service vehicle, which is situated on the demining site. Machine transportation over shorter and longer distances is done using a traction vehicle. Figure 3. Connecting the cabin with the «MINEWOLF» machine 5

6 2. PLAN OF THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE TESTING 2.1. Plan of the developmental testing of the «MINEWOLF» machine The «MINEWOLF» machine pre-test assessment was not performed since: the machine was used in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in 2003 and 2004, where it processed a total of m 2 mine suspected areas the machine was tested in Germany, on military training grounds, organised by the German Federal Military Forces Documentation on the testing conducted in Germany, as well as of machine operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia can be found in the archives of HCR- CTRO Ltd Plan of the operational testing of the «MINEWOLF» machine GOAL AND TASKS OF THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE TESTING The goal of testing the "MINEWOLF" machine is to gain knowledge and results about its operational capabilities, endurance and quality in training ground conditions as well as in real field conditions. During the tests it is necessary to fulfil the following tasks: to determine general technical characteristics of the machine and of the working tools to determine the tilling depth for different types of soil and the speed of motion of the machine to determine machine endurance and reliability after antipersonnel (AP) mine activation to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the machine control to determine possibilities of using the machine in mine-suspected areas to determine possibilities of the machine use for different types of soil, terrain slopes (horizontal and vertical slope) as well as for dealing with vegetation to determine the extent to which another method of deminer's inspection is needed after processing the mine suspected area to determine required machine logistics, service and regular maintenance CRITERION FOR TESTING THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE VALIDITY The criteria for the «MINEWOLF» machine evaluation are defined in accordance with the proposed Programme for Testing and Usability Evaluation of Machines used in Humanitarian Demining tasks, as well as with Standard Operating Procedures for Humanitarian Demining in the Republic of Croatia, Regulation on Performing the Demining Tasks. 6

7 LOCATION AND PERIOD FOR TESTING OF THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE The location for performing tests of the «MINEWOLF» machine is Cerovac, which is a training ground for testing demining machines, and a demining project in a mine-suspected area, a terrain of m 2 that will be described later. The demining project will be selected by CROMAC, Department for Drafting Humanitarian Demining Projects. The testing period is May 2005, divided in phases w.r.t. the required criteria: Phase 1: 1 day preparing the training ground Cerovac for machine testing Phase 2: 1 day flail testing on test lanes and with AP mines Phase 3: 1 day tiller testing on test lanes and with AP mines Phase 4: 7 days machine testing in a demining project Phase 5: 7 days deminer's inspection of the processed terrain in a minesuspected area TOTAL: 17 days After preparing the training ground and the machine, the testing of the machine with flail is performed on test lanes with different soil types, while measuring the depth of the soil processing and the speed of motion of the machine. Then, the testing of the machine and of the flail is done with AP mines. The following day, the complete procedure is repeated with the tiller working tool. After the training ground tests, the testing continues with the deployment of the machine in the scheduled demining project of m ORGANIZING THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE TEST a) First phase PREPARING THE TRAINING GROUND AND THE MACHINE Preparing the training ground for machine testing - Cerovac Preparing the test lanes Placing a fibreboard panel at a depth corresponding to the predicted soil processing depth of the machine Preparing the site for the machine testing with AP mines Preparing the «MINEWOLF» machine Machine transportation to the training ground Cerovac Machine inspection and preparation duration: 1 day b) Second phase MACHINE TESTING ON TEST LANES WITH DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES working tool: flail Testing on local soil lane Testing on sand lane Testing on gravel lane Measuring soil processing depth Measuring working speed of motion of the machine Testing of the machine and flail with AP mines 7

8 Five PMA-1A mines are placed in front of the working tool in a linear layout with 4 m spacing, at depths of 5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm, and they are armed with the appropriate fuses. The placed mines should be destroyed after running the machine + working tool and the results should be analyzed. Five PMA-2 mines are placed in front of the working tool in a linear layout with 4 m spacing, at depths of 5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm, and they are armed with the appropriate fuses. The placed mines should be destroyed after running the machine + working tool and the results should be analyzed. Five PMA-3 mines are placed in front of the working tool in a linear layout with 4 m spacing, at depths of 5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm, and they are armed with the appropriate fuses. The placed mines should be destroyed after running the machine + working tool and the results should be analyzed. Two PMR-2A mines are placed, of which: one PMR-2A mine is placed in front of the working tool and equipped with the corresponding fuse while the tripwire is tightened towards the machine. another PMR-2A mine is placed in the same way as the first one, but only after the first mine has been destroyed the placed mines should be destroyed after running the machine + working tool, and the results should be analyzed Two PROM-1 mines are placed, of which: One PROM-1 mine is placed in front of the working tool at the distance of around 5 m, equipped with the corresponding fuse and prepared for activation by pressure One PROM-1 mine is placed in front of the working tool at the distance of around 15 m, equipped with the corresponding fuse and prepared for activation by tripwire, where the tripwire is tightened from the mine to the machine. The placed mines should be destroyed after running the machine + working tool,and the results should be analyzed. Duration: 1 working day c) Third phase MACHINE TESTING ON TEST LANES WITH DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES working tool: tiller Testing on local soil lane Testing on sand lane Testing on gravel lane Measuring soil tilling depth Measuring working speed of motion of the machine Testing of the machine and tiller with AP mines Five PMA-1A mines are placed in front of the working tool in a linear layout with 4 m spacing, at depths of 5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm, and are armed with the appropriate fuses. The placed mines should be 8

9 destroyed after running the machine + working tool, and the results should be analyzed. Five PMA-2 mines are placed in front of the working tool in a linear layout with 4 m spacing, at depths of 5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm, they are armed with the appropriate fuses. The placed mines should be destroyed after running the machine + working tool, and the results should be analyzed. Five PMA-3 mines are placed in front of the working tool in a linear layout with 4 m spacing, at depths of 5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm, and they are armed with the appropriate fuses. The placed mines should be destroyed after running the machine + working tool, and the results should be analyzed. Two PMR-2A mines are placed, of which: one PMR-2A mine is placed in front of the working tool and equipped with the corresponding fuse while the tripwire is tightened towards the machine. another PMR-2A mine is placed in the same way as the first one, but only after the first mine has been destroyed The placed mines should be destroyed after running the machine + working tool, and the results should be analyzed Two PROM-1 mines are placed, of which: One PROM-1 mine is placed in front of the working tool at the distance of around 5 m, equipped with the corresponding fuse and prepared for activation by pressure One PROM-1 mine is placed in front of the working tool at the distance of around 15 m, equipped with the corresponding fuse and prepared for activation by tripwire, where the tripwire is tightened from the mine to the machine. The placed mines should be destroyed after running the machine + working tool, and the results should be analyzed. Duration: 1 working day Figure 4 «MINEWOLF» demining machine with the flail working tool 9

10 d) Fourth phase MACHINE PERFORMANCE IN A DEMINING PROJECT «MINEWOLF» machine operation at a mine suspected area (MSA) in a provided demining project of m 2 The machine works one shift of five hours per day, Daily performance of around m 2 /5 h can be expected The following should be measured: effective machine operation, potential failures and defects, surface of the processed area, soil and vegetation conditions, weather conditions, mine conditions, as well as at least 20 samples of the soil processing depth. Planned duration of 6-7 working days can be either prolonged or shortened, in function of the real machine performance, until the provided m 2 of MSA are processed Duration: 6-7 working days e) Fifth phase DEMINER'S INSPECTION OF THE MSA PROCESSED BY THE MACHINE Deminer's inspection of the terrain is performed by a manual method, using a metal detector and a prodder, and engages a deminer's team. During the deminer's inspection, daily capabilities of the deminers are estimated and the found mines and explosive devices are recorded and destroyed. Duration: 6-7 working days Figure 5 Detail of the flail of the «MINEWOLF» demining machine LIST OF PERSONNEL FOR MACHINE TESTING 10

11 The following persons will work on preparing, organizing and performing tests of the «MINEWOLF» machine: a) First phase preparing the training ground Cerovac and the machine Test leader, machine operator, technicians, soldiers b) Second and third phase machine testing on test lanes Test leader «MINEWOLF» machine operator CROMAC-Department for machine testing «MKA*DEMING» company representative Three deminers from «MKA*DEMING» company Three soldiers of the Croatian Army c) Fourth phase machine testing on a demining project Test leader «MKA*DEMING» machine operator Leader of the demining site Representative of «MKA*DEMING» company Deminers from «MKA*DEMING» company Medical team with ambulance, «MKA*DEMING» company d) Fifth phase - deminer's inspection of machine processed terrain Test leader Demining site leader, company «MKA*DEMING» «MKA*DEMING» company representative Deminers from «MKA*DEMING» company Medical assurance employees, company «MKA*DEMING» LIST OF MEANS AND OF EQUIPMENT 7.1. «MINEWOLF» demining machine p Servicing set for the machine and for the working tools.. 1 set 7.3. Set of spare parts for the machine and for the working tools. 1 set 7.4. Medical vehicle with corresponding regulated equipment.. 1 p Personal protective equipment for the deminers, machine operators and assistants set 7.6. Metal detectors p Set of demining tools p Set of tools for destroying mines, explosive devices and UXOs.. 1 p Set of tools and material for temporary marking... 1 set Devices for short-range connection (Motorola) p Explosive (TNT or plastic) kg EDC (electric detonator cap) p Miner's cable m Isolation tape p Slow-burning fuse m 11

12 7.16. Detonator cap no p Terrain vehicle p Protective equipment for the test leader set Digital photo camera p Stop-watch p Digital video camera p Binoculars p Laser telemeter p Laptop p GSM (098) p Meter p Measurement tape (50 m) p PMA-1A p PMA p PMA p PMR-2A p PROM p. REMARK: «MKA*DEMING» - Čakovec provides material means in points 7.1. till CROMAC-CTRO provides material means in points till CROMAC-CTRO provides mines and explosive devices and arranges for the delivery of the latter items to the operating site Figure 6 «MINEWOLF» demining machine with tiller working tool SAFETY AND PROTECTION MEASURES 12

13 a) Safety measures for the deminers Obligatory regulated protective equipment at the operating site (protective helmet with visor, bullet-proof vest) During work - minimum distance between the deminers should be 25 m, and 300 m from the machine Before use, metal detector must be checked and its accuracy tested, and only correct metal detectors can be used It is only allowed to use correct and complete means and equipment During AP and AT mine laying and arming operations, it is obligatory to comply with the regulated safety measures w.r.t. the type of mines While destroying the remaining mines and explosive devices it is obligatory to comply with the regulated safety procedures and measures b) Safety measures during the "MINEWOLF" machine operation Before using the machine, the operator is obliged to inspect the machine, to dispose of the observed deficiencies and to inform the test leader When the machine hits a mine or an explosive device, the motor should be switched off and the test leader should be informed using a radio device. No action should be undertaken on the machine without the permission of the test leader. The machine operator is always in the cabin of the machine, and he controls the machine from there. The machine operator is not allowed to walk on the terrain that is not inspected by the deminers and declared as safe. During a break (pause) the machine should be returned to a safe terrain and the machine should be inspected while operating, the observed deficiencies should be disposed of, and the test leader should be informed. At the end of a working day, the machine should be brought back to a safe terrain, the after-use machine inspection should be done, the needed amount of fuel as well as of oil should be tanked in the corresponding containers, the observed deficiencies should be disposed of, and the test leader should be informed Any action or activity with the demining machine without the permission of the test leader is forbidden The distance between personnel and the machine during the machine operation has to be 300 m minimum During work, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the "MINEWOLF" demining machine have to be respected c) Safety measures at the TEST site The test site has to be marked and indicated in accordance with the humanitarian demining SOP in the Republic of Croatia. All actions and procedures while preparing and performing the «MINEWOLF» machine tests have to be done in accordance with the Law on Demining (N.N. 19/96 and 86/98), Regulation on the Methods 13

14 for Performing Demining Operations as well as Standard Operating Procedures of Humanitarian Demining in the Republic of Croatia. All participants of the machine tests are obliged to respect rules and the activity leadership of the test leader The machine can be engaged one shift of 5 hours per day Daily working time of the deminers is 5 working hours with 30 min. break Medical team has to be ready to provide help in any moment Conection systems at the operating site during tests have to function correctly The test leader is obliged to organise all elements of the operating site in accordance with the regulations COMMUNICATION SCHEME In accordance with the certified and approved final plan of the demining project which will be determined for the testing of the demining machine «MINEWOLF». 3. THE PROGRESS OF THE «MINEWOLF» MACHINE TESTING 3.1 The progress of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing with antipersonnel mines «MINEWOLF» machine testing with antipersonnel mines working tool: TILLER On May 10, 2005, between 9:00 and 14:00, at the training ground for demining machine testing, testing was performed of the «MINEWOLF» machine with the tiller working tool with antipersonnel mines. The following results were obtained: a) PMA-1A 5 mines were placed at the planned depth (5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm) at 4 m distance and armed with the associated fuses. After machine passage and operation of the working tool (tiller), the 2nd and the 5th mine were activated (at the depths of 10 and 20 cm). Mines at positions number 1, 3 and 4 (depths of 5, 10 and 15 cm) were shattered. Neither the working tool nor the machine was damaged. 14

15 Figure 7 PMA-1A antipersonnel mine prepared for the «MINEWOLF» machine testing Figure 8 Remains of PMA-1A, shattered by the tiller of the «MINEWOLF» demining machine b) PMA-2 5 mines were placed at the planned depth (5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm) at 4 m distance and armed with the associated fuses. After machine passage and operation of the working tool (tiller), all 5 mines were activated. Neither the working tool nor the machine was damaged. 15

16 Figure 9 PMA-2 antipersonnel mine prepared for the «MINEWOLF» machine testing Figure 10 «MINEWOLF» demining machine with the tiller working tool during testing with antipersonnel mines c) PMA-3 5 mines were placed at the planned depth (5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm) at 4 m distance and armed with the associated fuses. After machine passage and operation of the working tool (tiller) operation, 4 mines were activated (at depths of 5, 10, 15 and 16

17 20 cm), while the mine at position number 3 (at the depth of 10 cm) was not activated but shattered. Neither the working tool nor the machine was damaged. Figure 11 PMA-3 antipersonnel mine prepared for «MINEWOLF» demining machine testing Figure 12 Remains of the PMA-3 antipersonnel mine shattered by the tiller of the «MINEWOLF» demining machine d) PMR-2A: First mine was placed in front of the machine at around 8 m distance and armed with the associated fuse. Due to the operation of the working tool (tiller) 17

18 the mine was activated, and the cabin glass received two impacts. The glass was not perforated but was only damaged at the outer layer. There was no other damage neither to the working tool nor to the machine. Second mine was placed in the same manner. The mine was activated by operation of the working tool (tiller), Neither the working tool nor the machine were damaged. Figure 13 PMR-2A antipersonnel mine prepared for the «MINEWOLF» machine testing e) PROM-1: First mine - was placed and prepared for activation by tripwire. After operation of the machine and the tiller working tool, the mine was shattered. The main (outer) fuse was activated, the pulse was transmitted to the powder charge, the mine body was detached from the bottom of the mine, but the inner fuse was not activated because the tripwire of the inner fuse got broken. The remainder of the mine was damaged, and destroyed afterwards. The working tool and the tiller had no damage. Second mine - was placed and prepared for activation by pressure. After operation of the machine and working tool (tiller), the mine was shattered; the working tool and the machine were not damaged. The mine remains were destroyed afterwards. 18

19 Figure 14 PROM-1 antipersonnel mine prepared for the «MINEWOLF» machine testing «MINEWOLF» machine testing with antipersonnel mines working tool: FLAIL On May 11, 2005, between 09:00 and 14:00, on the test site for demining machine testing, testing was performed of the «MINEWOLF» demining machine and of the flail working tool with antipersonnel mines. The following results were obtained: f) PMA-1A 5 mines were placed at the planned depth (5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm) at 4 m distance and armed with the associated fuses. After machine passage and operation of the working tool (flail), all 5 mines were activated. There was no damage to the working tool or to the machine. g) PMA-2 5 mines were placed at the planned depth (5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm) at 4 m distance and equipped with the associated fuses. After machine passage and operation of the working tool (flail), the mines at positions number 1, 2, and 3 were activated (at depths of 5, 10, and 10 cm). At positions number 4 and 5 (depths of 15 and 20 cm) the mines were shattered. Neither the working tool nor the machine was damaged. h) PMA-3 5 mines were placed at the planned depth (5, 10, 10, 15 and 20 cm) at 4 m distance and armed with the associated fuses. After machine passage and operation of the working tool (flail), all five (5) mines were activated. There was no damage neither to the working tool nor to the machine. i) PMR-2A: First mine was laid in front of the machine at around 8 m distance and armed with the associated fuse. Due to the operation of the working tool (flail) the mine was activated. There was no damage on the working tool and on the machine. Second mine was laid in the same way. Due to the operation of the working tool (flail) the mine was activated, without causing any damage to the working tool or to the machine. 19

20 j) PROM-1: First mine - was laid and prepared for activation by tripwire. After machine passage and operation of the working tool (flail), the mine was activated, and about 10 impact damages emerged on the flail shaft due to hits of the mine body parts. The right side of the flail coating was perforated at one place. The damages have no importance for the further machine and flail operation. Second mine was placed and prepared for activation by pressure. After machine passage and operation of the working tool (flail), the mine was shattered, the main fuse was activated, the powder charge had repelled the bottom of the mine body and cut the internal tripwire thus cutting the possibility of the fire chain continuation. The mine remains were destroyed afterwards. There was no damage to the machine. Figure 15 Damage of the right-side coating of the pulley on the flail working tool, caused by antipersonnel mine PROM-1 activation 3.2 The progress of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on test lanes On May 10, 2004, testing of the «MINEWOLF» machine with the tiller working tool was performed in Cerovac, a training ground for demining machine testing. The testing was conducted on three lanes of 50 m length, each with a different soil type. The depth of the soil tilling and the speed of motion of the machine were measured. Ivan Šteker, M.Sc, Nikola Gambiroža, Artur Debogović and Gordan Novak as well as Miss Željka Kavran, «MKA*DEMING» company representative, were present during the test. 20

21 1. Results of the machine testing with the tiller working tool on the training ground: SOIL TYPE average depth (cm) time (minutes, seconds) speed of motion of the machine (km/h) potential capacity (m 2 /h) LOCAL 35 5 min 00 s 0, ,00 SOIL SAND 35 2 min 15 s 1, ,40 GRAVEL 35 2 min 35 s 1, ,60 Table 1 Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on the training ground using the tiller working tool Figure 16 Operation of the «MINEWOLF» demining machine on the test lane with local soil On May 12, 2004, testing of the «MINEWOLF» machine with the flail working tool was performed in Cerovac, the above mentioned test site for demining machine testing. The testing was conducted on three lanes of 50 m length, each with a different soil type. The depth of the soil processing and the speed of motion of the machine were measured. Dr. Nikola Gambiroža, Artur Debogović and Gordan Novak as well as Miss Željka Kavran, «MKA*DEMING» company representative, were present during the test. 21

22 2. Results of the machine testing with the flail working tool on the training ground: SOIL TYPE average depth (cm) Time (minutes, seconds) speed of motion of the machine (km/h) potential capacity (m 2 /5h) LOCAL 12,50 5 min 05 s 0, ,00 SOIL SAND 17,00 4 min 35 s 0, ,20 GRAVEL 15,00 2 min 10 s 1, ,00 Table 2 - Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on the training ground using the flail working tool Figure17 - «MINEWOLF» demining machine operation on the test lane with sand 22

23 Figure 18 - «MINEWOLF» demining machine operation on the gravel test lane Figure 19 Remains of the fibreboard panel in the gravel test lane after operation of the «MINEWOLF» demining machine tiller working tool 3.3 The progress of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on MSAs According to the plan for the «MINEWOLF» demining machine testing, the testing was performed in the demining project «Vukovar houses, infields and agricultural areas» (label: PR-VSVU ) with a total surface of m 2, during 28 h 45 minutes of effective working hours. The machine was working from May 13 till May 16,

24 3.3.1 On May 13, 2005 The«MINEWOLF» demining machine was prepared to operate and to be tested in the demining project «Vukovar houses, infields and agricultural areas» (the project mentioned earlier). After machine inspection and setting up of all working site elements, the tiller working tool was placed on the machine, and the machine worked in the following conditions: Soil: I- II category, loose, wet Vegetation: low and medium grass, cm height Meteorological conditions: sunny, temperature of C Mine situation: - no record on the presence of mines and explosive devices The machine operated from 10:00 until 15:00 and from 16:30 until 18:00, in total - 6 h 30 minutes of effective operation The machine processed an area of m 2 i.e., 2.692,30 m 2 /h on average The depth of soil tilling was measured on 30 samples, with an average depth of 29,07 cm During the operation, the machine did not encounter mines or explosive devices The machine did not have a breakdown during the operation There were no damages or failures during the machine operation. From the Committee for testing, Gordan Novak was present. number DEPTH (cm) number DEPTH (cm) 1 34, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,00 Table 1 Soil tilling depth on May 13,

25 3.3.2 On May 14, 2005 the «MINEWOLF» demining machine, with the tiller working tool, continued to work in the same demining project, with the following conditions and results: Terrain: I- II category, loose, wet Vegetation: low and medium grass, cm height Meteorological conditions: sunny, C temperature Mine situation: there is no record on the presence of mines and explosive devices The machine operated from 8:00 till 13:00 and from 14:00 till 18:00, 9 hours of effective work in total The machine processed m 2 of terrain, i.e., 2.888,89 m 2 /h on average The depth of soil tilling was measured on 30 samples, with an average depth of 25,70 cm During the operation, the machine did not encounter mines or explosive devices The machine did not have breakdowns while operating During the operation, there were no machine damages or failures. From the Committee for testing, Gordan Novak was present. number DEPTH (cm) number DEPTH (cm) 1 26, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,50 Table 2 Soil tilling depth on May 14, On May 15, 2005 the «MINEWOLF» demining machine, with the tiller working tool, continued to work and achieved the following results: 25

26 Terrain: I- II category, loose, wet Vegetation: low and medium grass, cm height Meteorological conditions: sunny, C temperature Mine situation: - there is no record about the presence of the mines and explosive devices The machine worked from 08:00 till 13:00 and from 14:30 till 18:00, 8 hours and 30 minutes of effective operation in total The machine processed m 2 of terrain, i.e., 2.941,18 m 2 /h on average Soil tilling depth was measured on 30 samples, with an average depth of 25,82 cm During the operation, the machine did not encounter mines or explosive devices The machine did not have breakdowns while operating During the operation, there were no machine damages or failures. From the Committee for testing, Gordan Novak was present. number DEPTH (cm) number DEPTH (cm) 1 32, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,00 Table 3 Soil tilling depth on May 15, On May 16, 2005 the «MINEWOLF» demining machine continued to work in the same demining project as the days before, with the following conditions and results: Terrain: I- II category, loose, wet Vegetation: low and medium grass, cm height Meteorological conditions: cloudy, C temperature 26

27 Mine situation: - there was no record on the presence of the mine and explosive devices The machine operated from 08:00 till 11:00 and from 14:00 till 15:45, 4 hours and 45 minutes of effective work in total The machine processed m 2 of terrain, i.e., 2.899,80 m 2 /h on average The soil tilling depth was measured on 30 samples, with an average depth of 27,23 cm During the operation, the machine did not encounter mines or explosive devices The machine did not have breakdowns while operating During the operation, there were no machine damages or failures. From the Committee for testing, Gordan Novak was present. number DEPTH (cm) number DEPTH (cm) 1 34, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,00 Table 4 Soil tilling depth on May 16, 2005 On May 16, 2005, the «MINEWOLF» demining machine finished the testing work on mine suspected areas, with m 2 of processed area in total. 3.4 Deminers' inspection of the MSA processed by the machine Once the work of the «MINEWOLF» demining machine in the demining project was finished, and in accordance with the security conditions and the working site organisation, the deminers of the company «MKA*-DEMING» ltd.- Čakovec, applying a manual method (i.e. using a metal detector and a prodder), performed the inspection of the area processed by the machine as follows: 27

28 number date number of deminers number of working hours (h) INSPECTED AREA (m 2 ) 1 May 16, May 17, May 18, May 19, May 20, May 21, TOTAL Table 5 Deminer's inspection of the area processed by the machine in the demining project «Vukovar houses, infields and agricultural areas» On May 18, 2005, during the inspection of the machine-processed area, the deminers found shattered remains of one hand grenade and two BK-1s. The machine destroyed them. Figure 20 Shattered remains of the hand grenade on the demining working site, destroyed by the «MINEWOLF» demining machine 3.5 List of the participants of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing 1. Ivan Šteker, CROMAC-CTRO 2. Nikola Gambiroža, CROMAC 3. Gordan Novak, CROMAC 4. Artur Debogović, DZNM 5. Željka Kavran, «MKA*- DEMING» 6. Stjepan Krsnik, «MKA*- DEMING» 7. Davor Baloban, «MKA*- DEMING» 8. Željko Rak, «MKA*- DEMING» 9. Miljenko Baloban, «MKA*- DEMING» 10. Mladen Pičman, «MKA*- DEMING» 11. Slavko Gojan, «MKA*- DEMING» 12. Darko Kivač, «MKA*- DEMING» 13. Antonio Tomić, «MKA*- DEMING» 14. Hrvoje Šarić, «MKA*- DEMING» 15. Jovica Radić, «MKA*- DEMING» 16. Mladen Liber, «MKA*- DEMING» 17. Nikola Crnogaj, «MKA*- DEMING» 18. Zoran Lozić, «MKA*- DEMING» 19. Božidar Sladojević, «MKA*- DEMING» 20. Drago Grganja, «MKA*- DEMING» 21. Branko Trnokop, «MKA*- DEMING» 28

29 22. Bojan Papić, «MKA*- DEMING» 23. Damir Stanković, «MKA*- DEMING» 24. Stjepan Tadić, «MKA*- DEMING» 25. Jerko Marelić, «MKA*- DEMING» 26. Ivan Birać, «MKA*- DEMING» 27. Velibor Lučić, «MKA*- DEMING» 28. Mirela Šengula, «MKA*- DEMING» 29. Josip Kutnjak, «MKA*- DEMING» 30. Tomislav Gorički, «MKA*- DEMING» 31. Igor Birač, «MKA*- DEMING» 32. Zdravko Pilipović, «MKA*- DEMING» 33. Mario Škaro, «MKA*- DEMING» 34. Tihomir Gavran, «MKA*- DEMING» 35. Romeo Junušić, «MKA*- DEMING» 4 RESULTS OBTAINED DURING THE TESTING 4.1. Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on antipersonnel mines During the «MINEWOLF» demining machine testing on antipersonnel mines, the following results were obtained: Using the tiller working tool a) Blast antipersonnel mines MINE BURIAL DEPTH TYPE 5 cm 10 cm 10 cm 15 cm 20 cm PMA-1A S A S S A PMA-2 A A A A A PMA-3 A A S A A Table 11- Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing with the tiller working tool, for blast antipersonnel mines A= activated S= shattered 15 mines were placed 29

30 11 mines were activated 4 mines were shattered there was no damage neither of the tiller nor of the machine b) Fragmentation antipersonnel mines MINE TYPE 1st mine 2nd mine PMR-2A A A PROM-1 S S Table 12- Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing with the tiller working tool, in case of fragmentation antipersonnel mines 4 mines were placed 2 mines were activated 2 mines were shattered impact damages appeared on the tiller, which had no importance for further functionality of the machine or of the working tool Using the flail working tool c) Blast antipersonnel mines MINE BURIAL DEPTH TYPE 5 cm 10 cm 10 cm 15 cm 20 cm PMA-1A A A A A A PMA-2 A A A S S PMA-3 A A A A A Table 13 - Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing with the flail working tool, for blast antipersonnel mines A= activated S= shattered 15 mines were placed 13 mines were activated 2 mines were shattered there was no damage neither to the flail nor to the machine 30

31 d) Fragmentation antipersonnel mines MINE TYPE 1st mine 2nd mine PMR-2A A A PROM-1 A S Table 14 Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing and the flail working tool, for fragmentation antipersonnel mines 4 mines were placed 3 mines were activated 1 mine was shattered impact damages appeared on the flail, which were not important for the further functionality of the machine or the working tool 4.2. Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on test lanes of a training ground a) With the tiller working tool SOIL TYPE average depth (cm) potential capacity (m 2 /5h) LOCAL SOIL ,00 SAND ,40 GRAVEL ,60 Table 15 - Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on the test lanes b) With the flail working tool SOIL TYPE average depth (cm) potential capacity (m 2 /5h) LOCAL SOIL 12, ,00 SAND 15, ,20 GRAVEL 15, ,00 Table 16- Results of the «MINEWOLF» machine testing on the test lanes 31

32 4.3. Results of the operational testing of the «MINEWOLF» machine During the «MINEWOLF» demining machine testing in the demining project, the following results were obtained: The surface of the processed area number date effective time (h) PROCESSED AREA (m 2 ) 1 May 13, hours 30 min May 14, hours 00 min May 15, hours 30 min May 16, hours 45 min TOTAL 28 hours 45 min Table 17 - The surface of the terrain processed by the «MINEWOLF» machine in the demining project Vukovar From these tables, the following conclusions can be derived: The total machine engagement was 4 working days The effective machine operation time was 28 hours 45 minutes The total processed area was m 2 The average processed area for one working hour was 2.861,74 m 2 /h During the machine testing there were no interruptions nor damages of the machine or of the working tool The terrain was flat, without slopes, category I-II, wet and loose agricultural field. Vegetation was of low and medium height, around cm. The machine found mines and explosive devices, it did not activate them but it destroyed them by shattering and by crushing Soil tilling depth Soil tilling depth was measured on a flat processed part of the terrain, on 120 samples, with the following results: number date number of measured samples AVERAGE DEPTH (cm) 1 May 13, ,07 2 May 14, ,70 3 May 15, ,82 4 May 16, ,23 TOTAL ,96 Table 17 - Average soil tilling depth For the measured 120 samples, the average soil tilling depth is 26,96 cm. The largest depth measured was 36 cm, and the smallest was 18 cm. 32

33 The deminer's inspection of the area processed by the machine Total of the two processed demining projects: The following is evident from the deminer's inspection of the area processed by the machine: The number of working days was 6 days The number of the working hours was 870 hours m 2 were inspected During the inspection, remains of mines and explosive devices were found The average inspected area for one deminer's shift was: 460,57m 2 /1 deminer/5h Capability of one deminer for the inspection of the area processed by the machine in case of category I soil is m 2 /1 deminer/5h 5. DRAFT OF THE USABILITY EVALUATION OF THE «MINEWOLF» DEMINING MACHINE Based on this Testing report and on Art. 5.6 of the «Programme of the testing and usability evaluation of the machines used for the humanitarian demining tasks», we propose: THE USABILITY EVALUATION OF THE «MINEWOLF» DEMINING MACHINE 1. It is well-suited for the mechanical processing of a mine suspected area 2. It can be used on a terrain with a soil type ranging from I to V 3. It removes low, medium and high vegetation successfully 4. It destroys all types of antipersonnel and antitank mines successfully 5. The machine operator is in the cabin (direct machine control). The machine operator is not allowed to walk on the terrain processed by the flail until the deminer's inspection of the terrain is performed. 6. The noise in the cabin and the acceleration of the front part of the machine at the moment of an antitank mine activation falls within the allowed limits and there is no danger for the health of the operator in the cabin. 7. The results on the test lanes of a training ground are the following: a) With the tiller working tool SOIL TYPE average depth (cm) potential capacity (m 2 /5h) LOCAL SOIL ,00 SAND ,40 GRAVEL ,60 b) With the flail working tool 33

34 SOIL TYPE average depth (cm) potential capacity (m 2 /5h) LOCAL SOIL 12, ,00 SAND 15, ,20 GRAVEL 15, ,00 8. During the operational testing in the demining project, the results were as follows: Terrain: category I, sand, flat, without slopes Vegetation: low and medium grass, cm of height Average performance: 2.861,74 m 2 /h Average depth: 26,96 cm 9. Once a mined area is processed mechanically using the tiller of the «MINEWOLF» machine, application of a second method of deminer's inspection is obligatory. Daily capability of one deminer during 5 working hours is m 2 /5h. Given the current technical solutions, and based on the testing results as well as on the criteria of the «Programme of Testing and Usability Evaluation of the Machines Used for Humanitarian Demining Tasks» the MINEWOLF demining machine with the associated working tools (tiller and flail) can be used for performing humanitarian demining tasks in the Republic of Croatia. Sisak, May 23, 2005 The report is written by: Ivan Šteker, M.Sc. 34