Patent ID: 6536062
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: F41H,G01H,G01S,G01V

Abstract:
A prodder having force feedback for detecting detonatable devices or land mines, comprising:a reference object; a first rod having an end for placing in contact with a first object to be detected; a first transducer coupled to the first rod for providing an acoustic wave to the first object and for receiving acoustic waves reflected from about the first object; a second rod having an end for placing in contact with the reference object; a second transducer coupled to the second rod for providing an acoustic wave to the reference object and for receiving acoustic waves reflected from about the reference object; and, an electronics module for analysing data related to the acoustic waves reflected from the reference object to determine a value related to the force applied to the first rod, for analysing data related to the acoustic waves reflected from the first object in dependence upon the determined value to determine acoustic characteristics of the first object material so as to categorize the first object's material in a force independent fashion.