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2nd Evaluation Plan Workshop

06/06/2025

On June 3rd to 5th, 2025, the second Evaluation workshop for the CONVOY project took place in the city of Rijswijk, Netherlands. The event brought together the four consortia participating in the Tech Challenge (AIDEDex, CONVOY, DeterMine, and TICHE), coordinated by the challenge organising team HiTDOC.

The first day of the workshop focused on reviewing and closing out the first evaluation campaign. Each team discussed the final results of their performance in the first campaign, formally concluding this phase of the project. In addition, the day was dedicated to identifying key considerations for the second evaluation campaign.

The second day was conducted in breakout groups, where each consortium presented the technological progress made since the first evaluation campaign, highlighting new system capabilities, improvements, and lessons learned. The day also included a collaborative session on the evaluation plan for the next phase. The teams proposed various adjustments to better align the plan with their updated systems and objectives.

The workshop provided a collaborative space for each consortium to deliver a high-level overview of their systems and to engage in the planning of the upcoming second evaluation campaign, set to take place in September in Sweden.

21st Mine Action 2025 Symposium

06/06/2025

From April 1st to 3rd, 2025, the city of Cavtat, Croatia, hosted the 21st Mine Action 2025 Symposium, bringing together international experts, organizations, and stakeholders involved in humanitarian mine action.

The event kicked off on April 1st with a welcome dinner, providing a relaxed setting for participants to connect, exchange ideas, and build networks ahead of the main conference sessions.

The second day featured a series of conferences and panel discussions addressing the current state of mine action in different countries. Speakers shared experiences and key lessons learned, with particular focus on the situation in Ukraine. The discussions provided insight into both ongoing challenges and the progress made in affected areas.

The third and final day adopted a more technical focus, showcasing innovative solutions for detecting and clearing various types of landmines. One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the CONVOY project, introduced by GMV in collaboration with AIDEDex, participant to the technological challenge. The CONVOY project demonstrated the use of advanced autonomous systems and AI to enhance the safety and efficiency of demining operations.

The symposium reinforced the importance of international cooperation and innovation in tackling the persistent threat of landmines and explosives remnants of war, and set the stage for continued collaboration.

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Debriefing the 1st Evaluation Campaign:
Insights & Outcomes

12/09/2024

On November 12 and 13, a debriefing workshop focusing on the results of the first evaluation campaign took place at the ICT facilities in Pfinztal, Germany. The workshop was attended by the four consortia participating in the Tech Challenge (AIDEDex, CONVOY, DeterMine, and TICHE), as well as the organizing team HiTDOC.

The first day of the workshop began with a plenary session in the morning, where key results were presented at a high level to give all attendees an overview of the campaign’s outcomes. In the afternoon, the session shifted to a more interactive format, with break-out sessions where each consortium presented their results in detail. HiTDOC also shared their own findings and offered valuable feedback. The discussions helped participants identify strengths, challenges, and areas for improvement.

On the second day, a talk about mine detection was delivered by a FOI expert, providing valuable insights into current mine detection technologies and practices. Additionally, the calendar for next year’s activities was presented.

During the workshop, participants engaged in detailed discussions, sharing insights and feedback aimed at refining the project and ensuring its continued success moving forward.

CONVOY First Evaluation Campaign

10/25/2024

Between September 16 and 26, the first evaluation campaign for the CONVOY project took place at the FOI facilities in Grindsjön, Sweden. The event was attended by the four consortiums participating in the Tech Challenge, coordinated by the challenge organising team HiTDOC. The primary goal was for the consortia to integrate the different components of the system, to conduct field tests, and to gather crucial data for future improvements.

The event was divided into two weeks, during the first of which the different teams and platforms arrived on site, focusing on system integration and ensuring seamless communication between all parts. This phase was critical in aligning the components to function cohesively.

The second week marked the beginning of testing, with three distinct tracks designed for various evaluations. The event featured two primary tests, avoidance and detection, allowing participants to assess the systems’ capabilities under different conditions. Each track had its own unique features, ensuring a comprehensive review of the system’s performance.

The data gathered from these tests is expected to boost future enhancements, helping the consortia refine the systems and optimize their effectiveness.

6th C-IED Technology Workshop: Countering IED System in Progress

10/15/2024

From May 28 to 30, 2024, the sixth edition of the “C-IED Technology Workshop”, organized by NATO’s C-IED Centre of Excellence (C-IED CoE), took place at the Meliá Sevilla Hotel in Seville, Spain.

This biannual event brought together the international community involved in the fight against improvised explosive devices (C-IED, Counter Improvised Explosive Devices), aiming to provide the C-IED community of interest with an in-depth view of “the latest operational gaps/requirements based on recent conflicts and the emerging and disruptive techniques/technologies addressing them.”.

The event served as an ideal environment to define end-user requirements, exchange information, and gain insights into the tools being developed to tackle the evolving threat of improvised explosive devices and technical exploitation.

During this event, and in agreement with the European Commission, the CONVOY project was introduced, with the presentation focusing on the present and future challenges the system aims to address. With this initiative, the CONVOY project is positioned as a key element in the pursuit of innovative solutions, aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of the system in the face of upcoming challenges.

The first CONVOY workshop is held in Sweden

05/20/2024

On May 15th and 16th the first workshop for the CONVOY project took place in the city of Kista, Sweden. The event was attended by the four consortiums participating in the Tech Challenge (AIDEDex, CONVOY, DeterMine, and TICHE), coordinated by the challenge organising team HiTDOC. Each consortium provided a high level definition of their system and collaborated in planning the first evaluation campaign.

The aim of this workshop was the preparation of the first field evaluation campaign that will take place next September. Consequently, on May 14th the participants enjoyed a visit to the FOI (Swedish Defense Research Agency) facilities, where the first dry run of the project will be held. All attendees were able to acquaint themselves with the tracks where the future tests will be performed.

For the duration of the workshop (May 15th and 16th) multiple meetings and conferences took place, where the participating consortia shared their preliminary findings.

Ultimately, the holding of this event provided new insights about the CONVOY project, as well as strengthening the relationship between the participants.