June 28, 2006: A new mine detector has been developed, that can match a trained dog in its capability to detect explosives. Originally developed to detect mines, U.S. troops have found the new FIDO explosives detection system a major lifesaver in Iraq. FIDO was developed by a team of electronic, computer and chemistry experts, to do what a dog's nose does. The three pound, battery powered device basically detects explosives via the unique scent explosives give off. Explosives are chemical compositions that are constantly breaking down, and shedding distinctive collections of molecules. Dogs can detect them, so can FIDO. But dogs are usually trained to detect only one type of explosives (usually TNT), and have their bad days. FIDO can detect several types of explosives, and is more reliable and tireless than a dog (as long as you have fresh batteries handy.)
The troops can use FIDO to detect explosives when they are searching a building, or examining someone they have captured. FIDO can be attached to a robot, and used to check out for buried roadside bombs, booby traps and what have you. The initial troop tests were so successful, that a new version, FIDO X was developed, which weighs 1.5 pounds (and run four hours on its battery).
Work on FIDO began in 1998, and the device was not ready for troops tests in Iraq and Afghanistan until last year. Some interesting things were discovered during a year of earlier tests, on patches of ground where explosives were buried and trained dogs competed with FIDO to see who was best. Turned out that the "leaking" of the distinctive scent from buried explosives varied from day to day and depending on weather conditions. In other words, on some days the dogs, or FIDO, could detect a "mine", and other days they could not. But overall, FIDO was at least as accurate as the dogs, and capable to detecting more types of explosives.
