Digger DTR
Encyclopedia
The Digger Foundation is a Swiss humanitarian and non profit organization. The Foundation is based in Tavannes
, Switzerland
, and its goal is to promote technological assistance project in humanitarian demining
. The Foundation produce demining vehicles marketed and branded “Digger DTR (Demining Technologies)”.
The anteater
is the symbol of Digger. Its long, tubular snouts and its tapering tongue help it to search, dig and clean the ground.
, tracked flail mower
devoted to clearing scrubland and severing tripwires
. The D-1 was armoured
for protection from incidental mine detonation. Digger DTR estimates that clearing brush from a minefield (thereby exposing any obscured mines) doubles the rate at which human deminers can work while reducing casualties by 80%.
unit. Hitting the ground violently, it can dig up to 20 cm deep. After its passage, most of mines are detonated and work of demining personnel is simpler and safer. That helps to increase the speed of de-mining from five to ten times. For its new tasks, D-2 is equipped with a more powerful engine, 140 hp against 57 hp for D-1.
However, human control still remains important to ensure complete removal of mines. Even with the added measure of safety brought about by the development of the Digger DTR machines, mines remain a significant hazard to civilians in current and past war zones.
. In continuation of earlier versions, several updates were added, including a new motor for a more efficient work in all kind of fields.
In 2006, the first D-2 vehicle was sent to Sudan
in a test operation, in collaboration with the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action
(FSD), the financing of the city of Geneva
(Switzerland), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
(SDC), the Swiss Army, the Canton of Berne
(Switzerland) and Swiss Solidarity.
Extreme conditions, like temperatures of 45°C, dense vegetation or very hard ground had taught the Digger staff about potential of their tool. After 9 months of testing, Digger D-2 had been integrated into a demining team of the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action
(FSD). The team was accredited by the United Nations
in October 2006, which is an essential step before working in mine fields. A D-2 unit was then used near Kurmuk
, a village on the Ethiopian and Sudanese border, until June 2007. Following good results in harsh conditions, the UN recommended this machine to other potential users in Sudan. The UK based NGO Mines Advisory Group
(MAG) continued to work with this machine in Kurmuk in 2007 and 2008. Following the positive feedbacks from the field, the British organization “The Development Initiative (TDI)” purchased a standardized D-2 in July 2007 for their South-Sudan program.
D-2 has also been certified by ITEP (International Test and Evaluation Program for Humanitarian Demining), a neutral and international organization. The very positive report may be downloaded on their web site.
Tavannes
Tavannes is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and its goal is to promote technological assistance project in humanitarian demining
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
. The Foundation produce demining vehicles marketed and branded “Digger DTR (Demining Technologies)”.
History
The founder of Digger DTR, Frédéric Guerne, had worked as an engineer at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) on landmine detection projects, which ended in 1997. Passionate and engaged, he gathered around him about thirty volunteers from different but complementary fields and with the necessary know-how and in 1998 the team took up work. Initially an association, Digger DTR became a foundation in 2005.The anteater
Anteater
Anteaters, also known as antbear, are the four mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua commonly known for eating ants and termites. Together with the sloths, they compose the order Pilosa...
is the symbol of Digger. Its long, tubular snouts and its tapering tongue help it to search, dig and clean the ground.
D-1
Digger DTR's first device, the D-1, was a radio-controlledRadio control
Radio control is the use of radio signals to remotely control a device. The term is used frequently to refer to the control of model vehicles from a hand-held radio transmitter...
, tracked flail mower
Flail mower
A flail mower is a type of PTO driven implement that can attach to the three-point hitches found on the rear of most tractors. This type of mower is best used to provide a rough cut to taller grass where contact with loose debris may be possible such as roadsides.The flail mower gets its name from...
devoted to clearing scrubland and severing tripwires
Tripwire
A tripwire is a passive triggering mechanism. Typically, a wire or cord is attached to some device for detecting or reacting to physical movement...
. The D-1 was armoured
Armour
Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action...
for protection from incidental mine detonation. Digger DTR estimates that clearing brush from a minefield (thereby exposing any obscured mines) doubles the rate at which human deminers can work while reducing casualties by 80%.
D-2
Taking in consideration remarks and comments of deminers following tests of D-1, engineers and technicians of Digger DTR developed a new concept: the Digger D-2. Unlike D-1 this machine is able to detonate mines as well as cutting vegetation. This is accomplished by the addition of a mine flailMine flail
A mine flail is a vehicle-mounted device that makes a safe path through a mine-field by deliberately detonating land mines in front of the vehicle that carries it. They were first used by the British during World War II....
unit. Hitting the ground violently, it can dig up to 20 cm deep. After its passage, most of mines are detonated and work of demining personnel is simpler and safer. That helps to increase the speed of de-mining from five to ten times. For its new tasks, D-2 is equipped with a more powerful engine, 140 hp against 57 hp for D-1.
However, human control still remains important to ensure complete removal of mines. Even with the added measure of safety brought about by the development of the Digger DTR machines, mines remain a significant hazard to civilians in current and past war zones.
D-3
In March 2009, the first Digger D-3 machine is sold to CroatiaCroatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. In continuation of earlier versions, several updates were added, including a new motor for a more efficient work in all kind of fields.
Tests and success
In summer of 2002, the D-1 prototype was tested in Kosovo. This operation showed the weaknesses of the machine. After improvement, it was extensively tested in Switzerland, with the cooperation of the Swiss Army. Ultimately, following their goal of creating the most effective tool, Digger decided not put the D-1 into production.In 2006, the first D-2 vehicle was sent to Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
in a test operation, in collaboration with the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action
Swiss Foundation for Mine Action
The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action is a Swiss non-governmental organisation. "FSD" stands for Fondation Suisse de Déminage, the French name of the organisation). FSD is politically, ideologically and religiously independent. FSD is based in Geneva and operates a logistical and administrative...
(FSD), the financing of the city of Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
(Switzerland), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is an office-level agency in the federal administration of Switzerland, and a part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs...
(SDC), the Swiss Army, the Canton of Berne
Canton of Berne
The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...
(Switzerland) and Swiss Solidarity.
Extreme conditions, like temperatures of 45°C, dense vegetation or very hard ground had taught the Digger staff about potential of their tool. After 9 months of testing, Digger D-2 had been integrated into a demining team of the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action
Swiss Foundation for Mine Action
The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action is a Swiss non-governmental organisation. "FSD" stands for Fondation Suisse de Déminage, the French name of the organisation). FSD is politically, ideologically and religiously independent. FSD is based in Geneva and operates a logistical and administrative...
(FSD). The team was accredited by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in October 2006, which is an essential step before working in mine fields. A D-2 unit was then used near Kurmuk
Kurmuk
Kurmuk is a town in south-eastern Sudan near the border with Ethiopia.Kurmuk is inhabited by the Uduk and Berta peoples and is controlled by the SPLM....
, a village on the Ethiopian and Sudanese border, until June 2007. Following good results in harsh conditions, the UN recommended this machine to other potential users in Sudan. The UK based NGO Mines Advisory Group
Mines Advisory Group
The Mines Advisory Group is a Non-Governmental Organisation , which assists people affected by landmines, unexploded ordnance and SALW ....
(MAG) continued to work with this machine in Kurmuk in 2007 and 2008. Following the positive feedbacks from the field, the British organization “The Development Initiative (TDI)” purchased a standardized D-2 in July 2007 for their South-Sudan program.
D-2 has also been certified by ITEP (International Test and Evaluation Program for Humanitarian Demining), a neutral and international organization. The very positive report may be downloaded on their web site.
Dimensions data
- Overall length 5450 mm
- Overall width 2250 mm
- Height 1800 mm
- Mass total 8000 kg
- Armour 10 mm hardened steel
Engine
- Type John Deere, 4 cylinders, turbodiesel
- Displacement 4500 cm3
- Max power 140 ch
- Max torque 540 Nm