Demining Robot (DMR)
A remotely operated excavation robot developed by the Japanese company IOS Co., Ltd. with use in Cambodia in mind. A deminer operates it from a safe spot more than 15 meters away, and it digs up the ground using air pressure. Trials with CMAC were carried out through JICA's support program for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Uses
It performs the digging and checking of spots where a metal signal was found by remote control, instead of by hand. According to materials from GICHD's Innovation Conference 2025, the DMR has been in actual operation since 2022.
Features
Because it digs the soil with air pressure rather than a shovel, it can excavate efficiently while avoiding obstacles such as tree roots and stones. Development began when IOS CEO Kentaro Imai visited Cambodia and received a request from CMAC to develop it.
Advantages
Deminers can work away from the dangerous spot, which greatly improves safety. In trials, it was confirmed to be 2.26 times more efficient than digging by hand.
Challenges
The number of units deployed is still limited, and the robot is at the stage of building up operational experience in different soils and terrain. Systems for transporting and maintaining the machines are also needed.