Thursday, June 07, 2007

Armed conflicts have left a tragic legacy of landmines and unexploded ordinance (UXO) around the world. With over 100 million mines hidden in former conflict zones indiscriminately maiming and killing men, women and children, Ontario Drive and Gear Limited (the manufacturers of the world renowned ARGO and Centaur) have recognized the need to take urgent action to address this pernicious situation. Having already served in a diverse array of humanitarian and governmental missions including EMS, firefighting, defense and natural resource exploration, the ARGO and Centaur have considerable experience when it comes to difficult terrain.

ODG is looking to increase its contribution to the mine clearing efforts and with the ARGO’s and Centaur’s assistance put a significant dent in this horrific menace that has caused so much pain and suffering. The Centaur and ARGO are ideal partners in the quest to eradicate land mines due to their innovative ability to be modified to fit specific end user needs. Both the Centaur and the ARGO have the capacity to serve as platforms for specialized landmine detection and clearing equipment and as such are perfect for technologies like magnetometers, infrared detectors and even ground-penetrating radar devices. Moreover, both models are capable of being remotely and tele-operated, thus allowing the user to tactically maneuver as an unmanned, semi-autonomous ground vehicle.

In instances around the world, both the ARGO and the Centaur have proven that they can be trusted when it comes to UXO detection and removal. Recent testing by a client in Africa proved that the Centaur was able to withstand the impact of a 200 gram anti-personnel mine. Also, mine-detection kits developed by the Defense, Research and Development Centre (DRDC) have been used in conjunction with ARGOs to successfully clean up hazardous minefields in numerous locations. Another case in which the Centaur is making progress in the fight against UXO’s is the German designed “Trobot”. This model based on the Centaur chassis won extensive praise among the participants of the 2006 Civilian-European Land-Robot Trial (C-ELROB) and is likely to be a considerable force within the mine clearance industry in the near future.

There are a plethora of reasons why the ARGO and Centaur are the ultimate vehicles for mine detection and clearance. Firstly, in addition to their ability to traverse difficult terrain, both vehicles exert very little ground pressure and as such lower the risk of landmine detonation. Unlike other landmine clearing vehicles which quite often end up destroying the ground while searching for UXO’s, both the ARGO and Centaur are able to tread gently, thereby minimizing ground destruction and allowing local populations to quickly resume agricultural and commercial activities. Furthermore, with a payload of up to 1,500 lbs, and a towing capacity of 2,000 lbs the Centaur is one of the few machines that can effectively maneuver through the most delicate of situations. Also, both the Centaur and the ARGO offer the added benefit of being able to be quickly and economically transported via air to specific worksites. Although other vehicles may be limited by their regional service networks, both the ARGO and Centaur are backed by extensive technical support that is readily available through ODG’s global service network. Finally, while the majority of the UXO clearing vehicles available in the contemporary marketplace run upwards of $500,000.00, both the ARGO and the Centaur are without a doubt a much more economical solution.

The process of UXO detection and removal is slow, dangerous and expensive. However, by utilizing an ARGO or Centaur in conjunction with the appropriate technologies, this process can be completed in a more safe, sensitive and cost effective manner.

Every ARGO and Centaur is backed by decades of experience in the design and manufacture of off-road vehicles. Ontario Drive & Gear introduced the world-famous amphibious ARGO in 1967. Since then, ODG has produced more lightweight amphibious vehicles than any other manufacturer in the world. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of using the ARGO or Centaur for landmine detection or for your UXO identification equipment, please contact Tom Polanic at tpolanic@odg.com.

Visit Centaur and  Argo at the UXO/Countermine/Range Forum 2007 , Booth 76 & 77 on August 27-30. JW Marriott Grande Lakes, Orlando Florida.