Latest news with #Drobot
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine to establish AI-assisted demining test site
Ukraine has begun developing a testing site for the use of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies in mine action. Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Defence Details: The Defence Ministry and its partners have identified a location for a testing ground dedicated to demining technologies. Representatives of the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety, the United Nations Development Programme, the Ministry of Economy, and the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries visited the site to discuss its potential use for testing cutting-edge demining solutions. "This marks the initial step in a strategic initiative to establish an innovative testing site. Together with our partners, we have identified key areas for further efforts and decided to establish a training and testing complex for developing cutting-edge mine action technologies. This facility will not only drive technology modernisation but also serve as a repository for innovative solutions," said Olha Drobot, the Main Directorate of Mine Action representative. The Defence Ministry noted that the UN Development Programme and the Ministry of Economy expressed interest in developing the project as a key platform for humanitarian demining innovations. The next steps include creating a roadmap, forming a working group and preparing for initial tests. Drobot said that, as reported before, the advancement of modern technologies significantly accelerates non-technical land surveys and humanitarian demining while reducing risks for civilians. Experts also plan to implement new approaches for analysing satellite and aerial images to map mined areas, use neural networks for automatic minefield detection, and integrate AI algorithms into demining planning and safety processes. Background: In 2024, the Ministry of Economy signed an agreement with Palantir, a technology company specialising in big data analytics, to assist in demining efforts using AI. At that time, Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko stated that 156,000 square kilometres of land were potentially contaminated with explosives, putting over 6 million Ukrainians at risk. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Defense Ministry building testing ground for new AI-powered demining tech
The Defense Ministry is initiating the creation of a trial site to test new technologies used in demining, including those involving artificial intelligence, according to a statement published Feb. 11. Over 139,300 square kilometers of Ukrainian land are potentially contaminated with explosives from the full-scale war, with clearance efforts expected to take over a decade and cost $35 billion, according to the Economy Ministry. The project aims to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian demining, test innovations, and share experiences between Ukrainian and international partners, the Defense Ministry's statement read. "The training ground, which is at the disposal of the Defense Ministry, can become a unique platform for joint research, testing, and training," Olha Drobot, representative of the Secretariat of the National Mine Action Authority, said. The latest technologies and their development can significantly accelerate the process of non-technical surveys of territories, improve the safety of deminers, and reduce risks to the civilian population, Drobot added. During the meeting, the participants also discussed new approaches to analyzing satellite and aerial imagery for mapping mined areas, using neural networks to automatically recognize minefields, and integrating modern artificial intelligence algorithms into safe demining. Ukraine remains the most mined country in the world. Over the past two years, Defense Ministry specialists have cleared 30,000 square kilometers of mines — an area comparable to the size of Belgium or Moldova. Some 399 civilians have been killed, and 915 have been injured by mines since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, according to U.N. monitors. Multiple countries have been assisting Ukraine with demining efforts and providing training and equipment. Read also: Ukraine's army is reforming its structure. Will it help the fight against Russia? We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
