Vidyut: Design and Development of a Cost-Optimized 6WD Landmine Detection Rover with Real-Time GPS Localization

Landmines continue to pose significant humanitarian and environmental threats, particularly in post-conflict regions where unexploded ordnance remains undetected for decades. Existing detection techniques are either labor-intensive or economically impractical for large-scale applications. This paper presents the design and implementation of “Vidyut,” a cost-efficient six-wheeled (6WD) robotic rover intended for preliminary landmine detection and localization. The system integrates a metal detection module, GPS-based positioning, and wireless Bluetooth communication to enable remote operations and real-time monitoring. A hybrid mobility architecture using both BO motors and high-torque metal-gear motors ensures terrain adaptability. Upon detecting metallic anomalies, the system halts, generates an alert, and transmits geolocation data for further analyses. Experimental validation demonstrated reliable operation across uneven terrains with satisfactory detection accuracy for shallowly buried objects. The proposed system provides a scalable and low-cost foundation for semi-autonomous demining.