Ukrainian teen makes drone to detect landmines while hiding from war

Kyiv: 17-year-old Ukrainian prodigy Igor Klymenko has invented a drone that can detect unexploded land mines and send their exact coordinates. He and his family had been hiding in a basement due to the Russian invasion when he decided to give his project a try.

Igor's family had to flee their home in Kyiv when Russia attacked Ukraine. The basement they found shelter in is not far from the dangers of the war. He revisited a prototype of the drone he has been working on after hearing bombs and planes outside the basement for weeks. He started working on the project in 2014 when he was only nine years old. This was also when Russian troops began the invasion and occupation of Crimea.

He read books on robotics and sought help from teachers, scientists, and programmers to develop the drone. The teen now has two working prototypes and two patents. The quadcopter mines detector can geo-locate and provide coordinates within two centimetres. Igor is now working with investors and various organisations.

Speaking to Metro UK, he said his favourite subjects are maths and science. He has always dreamt of inventing something that can help the world. "I decided to pour all my energy into building a landmine-detecting device to help protect not just my fellow Ukrainians, but all victims of war."

Speaking about the motivation to work on the project, he said he realised that a flying drone would present a major advantage in not setting off mines. It could be adapted to work for both anti-personnel landmines, which detonate when a person steps on them, and anti-vehicle landmines, which can be triggered remotely, or by pressure on the road from cars or tanks.

"I drew the designs while closely consulting with my teachers and scientists I spoke to from all over the world. I am now working to build a minimum viable product so that the device can be tested in the real world, and put to use to help free Ukraine and the world of landmines," he added.