Sensys GmbH

Close the Loop, Clear the Path:
Legged Robotics and Advanced Electromagnetic Sensor Fusion Redefine EOD Operations

By SENSYS & ELP European Logistic PartnersThe landscape of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and route clearance is undergoing a quiet, yet profound revolution. For decades, the EOD robotics market has evolved incrementally, with operators relying on trusted tracked and wheeled platforms through multiple generations of incremental upgrades. While these conventional systems remain highly reliable, predictable, and absolutely indispensable, they are increasingly challenged by complex, vertically structured, or rubble-filled terrain where wheeled or tracked propulsion hits its physical limits. Today, a major capability gap is being bridged. Through a joint development initiative, SENSYS and ELP have combined cutting-edge legged robotics with system-agnostic electromagnetic (EM) sensor fusion to deliver a tactical leap forward for troops in the field.1. The Hardware Leap: Legged Systems on the BattlefieldTo solve the mobility bottlenecks of urban and degraded environments, ELP — in close cooperation with Boston Dynamics and experienced EOD operators — began investigating how legged robotic systems can supplement established EOD inventories. Extensive trials have demonstrated that legged platforms can execute reconnaissance and clearance missions significantly faster than conventional wheeled or tracked units.Legged systems, such as Boston Dynamics’ Spot, navigate stairs, steep slopes, debris fields, and narrow urban passages without requiring complex, error-prone manual steering. The robot’s internal software dynamically manages its center of gravity, allowing it to maintain a rock-solid stance even on uneven surfaces. This level of physical stability is critical for executing missions under precarious conditions.

Figure 1: Boston Dynamics' Spot, equipped with the SENSYS EM sensor loop and the robotic arm, demonstrating exceptional stability and payload management under field-like conditions.

Importantly, these legged systems are designed to supplement, not replace, existing EOD vehicles. While standard tracked platforms like the Packbot 525 remain the heavy-duty workhorses of EOD units, legged systems offer an agile scout capability that expands the tactical toolkit, especially as NATO forces increasingly transition to faster, highly mobile operational tempos.2. System-Agnostic Sensor Integration & Low-Latency Data Fusion The true tactical differentiator of this new system lies in its sensor suite. SENSYS and ELP have engineered a highly system-agnostic integration of the SENSYS Active Electromagnetic (EM) detection payload. This payload is initially available for two widely fielded, yet physically distinct platforms: the legged Spot (Boston Dynamics) and the tracked Packbot 525 (Teledyne FLIR).

The system overcomes the traditional delay between data acquisition and tactical decision-making by utilizing real-time on-board data processing. As the robot scans the terrain, subsurface electromagnetic anomalies are processed with extremely low latency and combined with high-resolution visual feeds from 360° optical cameras.By fusing active EM data with AI-assisted optical image analysis, the system achieves a quantum leap in target classification. For the operator, this eliminates the guesswork of interpreting raw sensor charts. Instead, the interface dynamically displays "cleared paths" in real time, highlighting exactly where the robotic platform has scanned and verified a safer, metal-free path for advancing troops.

Figure 2: ELP’s Spot with installed SENSYS Magnetometer as alternative sensor navigating high grass and uneven ground during autonomous route-clearance trials, continuously streaming real-time data to the command post.

3. Standardizing the Threat: Mine-GeoJSON and SitaWare IntegrationA common bottleneck in autonomous defense is the "fielding lag"—the speed at which data collected at the tactical edge is converted into actionable command decisions. To address this, SENSYS and ELP have aligned their software architecture with standard military data streams and modern battle management systems (BMS).Standardization via Mine-GeoJSON

Co-Developed with the CIHBw: This standardized GIS-based data structure was developed in close collaboration with the Cyber Innovation Hub of the German Armed Forces (Cyber Innovation Hub der Bundeswehr - CIHBw).

Operational Value: By utilizing a lightweight, standardized JSON schema, the system provides immediate, clean, and structured parameters—such as precise GPS coordinates, depth, signal strength, and automated classification—without overloading tactical radio networks.

Direct Ingestion to SitaWare

Common Operational Picture (COP): The coordinates of detected mine barriers, UXOs, and safe paths are plotted directly onto the screens of command and control (C2) centers and tactical commanders in real time.

In-Field Troop Protection: Advancing infantry or mechanized forces receive immediate alerts on their tactical tablets. Instead of waiting for EOD teams to manually clear an area and write reports, the troop commander has an active, digital map of cleared paths, keeping the tactical momentum alive while maximizing combat safety.

4. Operational Milestones: From Westertimke to ProductThis integrated technology is not just a laboratory concept—it is a proven, battle-relevant capability that has been repeatedly validated in the field:1. Demining Demo at Westertimke (CIHBw DeminingDay)At the invitation of the Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub (CIHBw), SENSYS and ELP participated in a live demining demonstration in Westertimke. The drone-based counterpart, EDDY DRONE, and the legged variant, EDDY SPOT (operated by ELP), were tasked with scanning a real, deployed mine barrier under active field conditions. Fusing the SENSYS electromagnetic data, the system successfully analyzed threat levels and automatically calculated the safest path through the active mine barrier. The demo proved that autonomous sensor-to-command loops could safely and reliably guide forces through hazardous lanes.2. Validation at ELROBThe first-generation prototype was further validated at the European Land Robot Trial (ELROB). Co-organized by the Fraunhofer Institute and European armed forces, ELROB provided a highly demanding environment that tested the robot’s endurance, mobility, and electromagnetic data integrity under rigorous, competitive scenarios..

Figure 3: View of the system during field trial preparation, demonstrating the integrated manipulator arm guiding the SENSYS EM loop to sweep the ground with high precision.

3. What’s Next: Further testing in realistic environmentsThe development cycle is moving at a rapid pace. Building on the lessons learned from the first prototype, SENSYS and ELP have finalized a fully revised second-generation EM prototype. This updated system will undergo extensive field trials. Led by ELP, the new EM system will be deployed and rigorously tested on both SPOT and the tracked Packbot 525, evaluating its ruggedness, real-time data fusion, and SitaWare integration during realistic exercises.5. Conclusion & OutlookModern legged robots have successfully closed the capability gap between civilian dynamic mobility and specialized EOD requirements. By combining ELP’s robotic integration expertise with SENSYS’s advanced electromagnetic sensors, military forces are gaining access to a highly mobile, system-agnostic search capability. Through the standardization of threat data in the Mine-GeoJSON format and direct linkage into SitaWare, EOD operations are no longer isolated hazard-reduction tasks—they are now an integrated, real-time, digital element of modern battle-group maneuver and force protection.