A prototype of a low-cost Libyan ground robot has passed field tests in Zawiya, demonstrating its ability to operate remotely for a distance of 600 meters and navigate using GPS.
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The experiments demonstrated the robot's ability to pick up and transport light objects, as part of an engineering project aimed at developing tools to support reconnaissance and inspection tasks in areas affected by conflicts and war remnants.
According to a scientific study published in the journal "Discover Vehicles" of the "Springer Nature" group, the model is called "Libya-Diffuser" and was developed by a Libyan university team using commercially available components locally, with a total cost of materials used in the prototype amounting to about 4048 Libyan dinars, equivalent to about 830 dollars.
The tests were conducted in the city of Zawiya, inside the site of the Zainab Al-Tayeb School, on a level ground with cohesive soil, with the aim of evaluating the performance of the robot’s electronic and mechanical systems, and its ability to work in an integrated manner within a ground platform that can be operated from a relatively safe distance.
The robot consists of six main systems, including a mobile base with four wheels, two electronic control units, a navigation and sensing system, a robotic arm with five degrees of freedom, a dual communication system, and an auxiliary water unit for fire suppression.
The aluminum structure is about 150 centimeters long, and about 50 centimeters wide and high each, while the total weight of the equipped platform is about 30 kilograms, including the batteries, robotic arm and water tank.
The system allows the robot to be operated in three ways: via a portable wireless controller, a Bluetooth connection linked to a dedicated Android app, or by uploading route points using the Global Positioning System (GPS), allowing it to head towards specific locations under the operator's supervision.
The tests showed the robot's ability to respond to wireless control commands within a range of up to 600 meters in direct line of sight conditions, with data packet loss increasing to less than 5% at this distance.
The reliability of the connection decreased after exceeding 650 meters, while it was impossible to maintain a stable control connection at a distance of 700 meters.
The vehicle was also able to follow a path consisting of three guidance points, and achieved an accuracy margin of no more than two meters in each attempt during the test conducted on flat ground.
In the robotic arm test, the robot was able to pick up objects weighing between 100 and 150 grams and move them to a height of approximately 15 centimeters, relying on a camera that transmits the image to the operator. The experiment was successful in 19 out of 20 attempts, with a success rate of 95%.
According to the study, the arm's function is limited to handling small, light, non-dangerous objects, removing minor obstacles that obstruct the field of view, or adjusting the position of the camera and sensor head. It does not include handling ammunition or moving mines.
The model includes a metal sensor based on a Colbits-type electronic circuit, designed to give indications when metallic objects are near the Earth's surface.
The tests showed that the sensor responded to targets made of steel, copper and aluminum, at a distance of between 10 and 15 centimeters.
However, the study stressed that these results are not sufficient to classify the device as a certified mine detector, as the tests did not determine the detection depth, the probability of detecting targets, or the false alarm rate, and the sensor cannot distinguish between mines, other metal objects, and battle remnants.
The researchers confirmed that the experiment proves the possibility of integrating different systems into a low-cost robotic platform, but it does not mean that the vehicle is ready for use in areas contaminated with mines or unexploded ordnance.
The study noted that the tests were limited to one location and specific ground conditions, and that the robot does not have an obstacle perception or threat classification system, nor has it undergone long-term operational testing or an approved evaluation by mine clearance specialists.
The experiment gains its importance from the possibility of manufacturing the platform using locally available components, while providing a means of support for reconnaissance and remote sensing, which may open the way for the development of more advanced models that take into account the requirements of safety and reliability in conflict-affected environments.
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