A Reconfigurable Multipurpose System on Chip Platform for Metal Detection

Modern day robotics is fast developing and evolving in various areas of multi sensor applications like body sensor networks and mine detection. A flexible platform that can be easily integrated into variety of sensors is very essential in any complex environment. A reconfigurable hardware provides a suitable platform to identify and improve existing models used in metal detection industry. In this paper, we propose and implement a metal detection module using Terasic Spider Robot, planned to be used in landmine detection operations. A hardware circuit model to detect metal was designed for the metal detection module and embedded on the TSR. The on board control system was implemented using a reconfigurable DE0 Nano System on Chip platform that can further process the information from the metal detector using efficient algorithm. The movement of the TSR was controlled remotely by Bluetooth using a smartphone app designed specifically for this application. The design also intimates the user with a message on detecting the metal. The design was implemented successfully and the metal detection module detected buried metals at a depth of maximum 7cm.