Re: Mine Probing

In a message dated 9/28/02 9:21:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
johnmatkinson@yahoo.com writes:

> > Or the PAU's integrated mine-searching and removal
> > piece of kit. Includes
> > optical, chemical and tactile sensor integrated in a
> > small package with
> > powerful small-scale digging equipment and a simple,
> > but effective
> > detonation inducer. AKA trained mine-clearing rats
> > ;-)
> 
> What's the detonation inducer?  Rats can't weigh more
> than a couple of pounds, how do they set off mines
> that require more pressure to function?
> 
> John
> 

This is from RL, so might be off topic. :-)
In the WTC cleanup they were working with rats that carried small
backpacks 
with a camera on board, they had wires into their head that allowed
their 
handlers to use a joystick like device to make them move in different 
directions. It was hoped they could get deeper into the pile than search

dogs, and help direct the search and rescue teams. Not sure how useful
they 
actually were, but how big a charge would one have to be carrying to set
off 
a mine the rat was sitting on?

John Rebori ETN2 (Discharged)
USN 1976 - 1982
ex-USS Pegasus PHM-1