Mine Kafon: The low-tech, high-design tumbleweed minesweeper

George Webster, CNN
Updated 12:20 PM EDT, Fri July 12, 2013
The Mine Kafon is a low-cost wind-powered mine detonator with the appearance of a giant, spiky-armed tumbleweed.
Rolling in the wind —
The Mine Kafon is a low-cost wind-powered mine detonator with the appearance of a giant, spiky-armed tumbleweed.
Massoud Hassani
A multitude of plunger-like arms made from lightweight bamboo spread out from a spherical core that contains a cheap GPS tracking device. The Mine Kafon can withstand the loss of about a third of these arms before it can no longer propel itself forward by the wind.
Bamboo legs —
A multitude of plunger-like arms made from lightweight bamboo spread out from a spherical core that contains a cheap GPS tracking device. The Mine Kafon can withstand the loss of about a third of these arms before it can no longer propel itself forward by the wind.
Massoud Hassani
The recycled rubber feet ensure maximum contact with the ground as the Mine Kafon tumbles with the wind across areas known or suspected to contain anti-personnel landmines.
Plungers for feet —
The recycled rubber feet ensure maximum contact with the ground as the Mine Kafon tumbles with the wind across areas known or suspected to contain anti-personnel landmines.
Massoud Hassani
The structure was designed by former Afghan refugee Massoud Hassani, who was inspired by the hand-made toys -- like the one pictured above crafted from paper and plastic straws -- that he and his friends would fashion when they were kids growing up in Afghanistan.
Child's play —
The structure was designed by former Afghan refugee Massoud Hassani, who was inspired by the hand-made toys -- like the one pictured above crafted from paper and plastic straws -- that he and his friends would fashion when they were kids growing up in Afghanistan.
Massoud Hassani
As a student at Design Academy Eindhoven, Hassani began remaking the paper orbs of his youth but at 20 times the scale and weight -- with the hope that such a structure could be used to detonate some of the 10 million or so undetected mines that the United Nations says still cover his home country.
Thinking big —
As a student at Design Academy Eindhoven, Hassani began remaking the paper orbs of his youth but at 20 times the scale and weight -- with the hope that such a structure could be used to detonate some of the 10 million or so undetected mines that the United Nations says still cover his home country.
Massoud Hassani
The resulting design has been under testing by Dutch military and development groups for the past few years.
Big bangs —
The resulting design has been under testing by Dutch military and development groups for the past few years.
Massoud Hassani
Mine-sweeping is predominantly carried out manually by mine diffusing experts, and often at great expense. Hassani says that one of the main advantages of his creation is that it can be produced for around $40 and, he hopes, eventually without significant expertise.
Cheap sweep —
Mine-sweeping is predominantly carried out manually by mine diffusing experts, and often at great expense. Hassani says that one of the main advantages of his creation is that it can be produced for around $40 and, he hopes, eventually without significant expertise.
Massoud Hassani
However, mine clearing expert Adam Komorowski says that, while a noble and inspiring concept, the current Mine Kafon prototype falls far short of industry safety standards. His main concern is that it depends on the capricious mood of the wind, which makes it less systematic than it needs to be.
Safety first —
However, mine clearing expert Adam Komorowski says that, while a noble and inspiring concept, the current Mine Kafon prototype falls far short of industry safety standards. His main concern is that it depends on the capricious mood of the wind, which makes it less systematic than it needs to be.
Massoud Hassani
Hassani acknowledges the existing limitations, but says he has other remote-controlled models in the pipeline -- such as the cylindrical version pictured above -- containing small motors and even metal detection units.
The first of many? —
Hassani acknowledges the existing limitations, but says he has other remote-controlled models in the pipeline -- such as the cylindrical version pictured above -- containing small motors and even metal detection units.
Massoud Hassani
In the meantime, the Mine Kafon has been warmly received by design aficionados. It was recently showcased during Dutch Design Week and is due to be exhibited at New York's Museum of Modern Art early next year.
Design icon —
In the meantime, the Mine Kafon has been warmly received by design aficionados. It was recently showcased during Dutch Design Week and is due to be exhibited at New York's Museum of Modern Art early next year.
Massoud Hassani
Mine Kafon: The low-tech, high-design tumbleweed minesweeper

Story highlights

Mine Kafon is a cheap, light, wind-powered mine detonating device

Created by an Afghan designer who was inspired by toys he modeled as a child

Industry expert says concept is laudable, but does not currently meet safety standards

CNN  — 

An Afghan designer and former refugee has developed a low-cost, wind-powered mine detonating device inspired by the toys he played with as a child.

Massoud Hassani’s Mine Kafon is composed almost entirely from bamboo and biodegradable plastics, with a skeletal structure of spiky plungers that resembles a giant spherical tumbleweed from another planet.

At 70 kilograms, Hassani says his invention is light enough t