Many are designed to self-destruct or self-deactivate at the end of a conflict or a preset period of time.
[1] Others are so-called "self-healing" minefields which can detect when a gap in the field has been created and will direct its mines to reposition themselves to eliminate that gap, making it much more difficult and dangerous to create a safe path through the minefield.
[2] The development of smart mines began as a response to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines as a way of reducing non-combatant and civilian injury.
Critics claim that new technology is unreliable, and that the perception of a "safe mine" will lead to increased deployment of land mines in future conflicts[citation needed].
Current guidelines allow for a 10% failure rate, leaving a significant number of mines to pose a threat.