Mar 24, 2026

US12585039 - System and method for UXO detection

A system and method for detecting, locating, and removing UXO is disclosed. The system uses a drone-device equipped with a metal detector that fully integrates military-grade metal detection capability. The system flies terrain with centimeter precision using onboard LIDAR, SONAR, and RADAR sensors at altitudes as low as 20 cm. The system achieves exact RTK GPS pinpoint location of targets within centimeters. The system also provides numerous mission-planning GUIs for tablets and smartphones.

Inventors: Tobias Leininger
Filing date: 2023-11-13

The patent describes a UAV system designed for detecting unexploded ordnance (UXO) using a metal detector integrated with advanced sensors like LIDAR, SONAR, and RADAR for precise location tracking. The UAV features a unique X-patterned frame that houses various electronic components and a specialized UXO detector, which can be deployed and retracted using a winch mechanism.

Claim 1

1 . A method of assembling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for use in detecting unexploded ordnance (UXO), comprising: arranging four rectangular arms of the UAV into an X-patterned frame; further constructing the frame to have a plurality of plates at the center of the X-pattern, the plates being in parallel with each other and horizontal to the ground; positioning the plurality of parallel plates to secure the four rectangular arms together and hold a plurality of electronic components and forming a center core; positioning a flight controller (FC), an RFD modem, a GPS unit, a front sensor hub, and a main battery within the center core; constructing a UXO detector of an upper coil, lower coil, and winch; attaching the UXO detector to the frame; attaching a winch for raising and lowering the UXO detector; locating a winch mount between a bottom plate and a middle plate within the center core; and attaching a winch assembly to the center core via the winch mount; configuring the winch so that the upper coil can either be retracted up to the center core, or extended away from the UAV to a predetermined distance; constructing the top coil material to have smaller diameter than the bottom coil, but have the same length and width as the bottom coil: when the UXO detector is deployed, the coils are a predetermined distance away from each other; and when the UXO detector is folded or collapsed for transport\storage, the upper/lower coils are touching each other.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12585039

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12585039