I recently read a newspaper article about the booster rockets on space shuttles having remote detonators in them in case they veer off-course, so they can be blown up before they crash into a population center. Why not use the same technology in landmines to neutralize the threat of decades-old minefields to civilians?

(Not sure why I'm suddenly so interested in landmines, but I've been thinking about these ideas for the last few months and can't think of a reason not to post them, lol)
-- 21 Quest, Apr 16 2006

Non-persistent Biodegradable Landmines. http://www.metts.com.au/landminesdoc.html
The miracle of plastics. [Letsbuildafort, Apr 16 2006]

I bunned this, but I think its baked. Still the right idea. How about a timer too. Say five years after arming, the mine goes off. (Deactivation is not enough. the explosive charge is still there.)
-- Galbinus_Caeli, Apr 16 2006


Bun.
-- Germanicus, Apr 16 2006


/Why not use the same technology in landmines /

Err... now don't get me wrong, I'm a confirmed pacifist, but the answer to your question has got to be "Because then your enemy only has to learn the secret of your technology, and he will be able to detonate them at will". Poor Will.

And as for the idea of mines going off without warning after five years, surely that only reduces the risk of injury very slightly? At the very least I'd want to see klaxons and flashing lights, and a big LED countdown rising out of the ground, to give adequate warning that an explosion is about to occur.
-- egbert, Apr 16 2006


The flashing lights might backfire.
"Quick, everybody! Come and have a closer look at the strange thing I just discovered in the field!"
-- jutta, Apr 16 2006


I'm no chemist or nothin' but what if you had a packet of explosive neutralizing stuff that after the allotted time (5 years) emptied itself into the explosive chemicals. Then the whole thing would just be inert and poor Will gets to live. With all his body parts intact.
-- NotTheSharpestSpoon, Apr 16 2006


Good point, Jutta. Are flashing lights a universal warning sign? How about a skull and crossbones? That's got to be pretty well understood everywhere.
-- egbert, Apr 16 2006


Link. And what about poor 'ol me getting to live, [NTSS]?
-- Letsbuildafort, Apr 16 2006


Well.. fine. If you really want live, go ahead. I won't stop you.

This time. Muhahaha!
-- NotTheSharpestSpoon, Apr 16 2006


[egbert] There would be a small danger from a random explosion. Mines are only dangerous for a few meters around. The odds of someone being nearby are not high (if the area were well travelled, someone would already have set it off.) And once the first one in a field goes off I expect the locals are going to clear out for a few days until the explosions end.
-- Galbinus_Caeli, Apr 17 2006


Mines that automatically go off in five years would be forgotten about when the next administration came into office.
-- RayfordSteele, Apr 17 2006


Thus the reason why they need to be automatic.
-- Galbinus_Caeli, Apr 17 2006



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