A guide to sensor design for land mine detection

The author discusses the use of smell by dogs to detect land mines. The author then discusses the concept of using a man made odour detector to detect explosive vapours. The author highlights one sensor type which shows outstanding potential for land mine detector use at present: this is the conducting polymer sensor. This type of sensor has a high degree of sensitivity and other desirable features and has been in operation for some years now by a British company for the purpose of aroma analysis and quality control of industrial and agricultural products. It would certainly be possible to develop this type of sensor further for land mine detection. The principle of biological smell detection is outlined