# Life-Saving Rodents Herorats are Latest in Landmine Detection Tactics By Brian G Randles | Published 2009-12-13 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/landmine-detection References: [socyberty](http://socyberty.com/issues/unexploded-landmines-call-for-the-herorats/) & [notcot.org](http://www.notcot.org/) Bart Weegens is a scientist from Belgium who has found a new way to go about landmine detection. Although not exactly advantageous for the so-called HeroRATs, the idea could potentially save hundreds of lives. According to Weegens, the rats have a [great sense of smell](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diagnoze) and are incredibly easy to train. So basically he is putting a leash on a rat and letting it play a twisted version of rodent Russian Roulette. I have to say, this new landmine detection idea would be pretty messed up if the potential for saving human life wasn’t so great. Check out more [life-saving](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hero-gum) finds on Trend Hunter below. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.6/10 - Popularity: 60% | Activity: 11% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Pets](https://www.trendhunter.com/pets) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Landmine Detection Innovation:** The use of rats with a keen sense of smell and easy trainability for landmine detection presents an opportunity for innovative solutions in the field of humanitarian demining. - **Animal-assisted Technologies:** The utilization of animals, such as trained rats, in life-saving tasks like landmine detection opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the field of animal-assisted technologies. - **Sustainable and Efficient Landmine Detection:** The development of sustainable and efficient methods, like employing rats for landmine detection, offers potential for disruptive innovation in the field of demining operations. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Humanitarian Demining:** The innovative use of rats for landmine detection has the potential to revolutionize the humanitarian demining industry, making it safer and more efficient. - **Animal Training and Handling:** The application of animal training and handling techniques, exemplified by the use of rats in landmine detection, presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the animal training industry. - **Public Safety and Security:** The adoption of novel technologies, such as employing trained rats for landmine detection, can drive disruptive innovation in the public safety and security industry by enhancing threat detection capabilities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Autonomous Mine Detection Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mine-detector-robot.md) - [Innovative Rat Birth Control](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rat-birth-control.md) - [Scent-Detecting Robot Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sniff-robot.md) - [Sea Mine-Destroying Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minedestroying-underwater-robots.md) - [AI Pest Monitoring Rollouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fehd-ai-pest-control.md) - [Gritty Rodent-Inspired Boots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ratboot.md) - [Contraband-Detecting Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/narc-robot-concept.md) - [Blood Clot-Relieving Millirobots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/millirobot.md) - [Technologically-Driven Rodent Traps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thanos-home.md)