Drone technology: A solution for maximum impact

The integration of drone technology is revolutionising the industry through the ability to collect vast amounts of data while ensuring safety, reducing costs, and improving the environmental footprint.

Traditionally, mine mappings and inspections were performed using labour-intensive surveying and mapping techniques or manual inspections, both of which had limitations in capturing real-time data and identifying potential hazards.

With the introduction of drone technology, these processes have become more efficient, safe, and accurate, allowing for the capture of high-resolution images and data from various angles and altitudes.

The use of indoor drones is enabling mining personnel to create 3D models and point clouds of unstable areas, improving safety, stability, and ore determinations, making mining operations safer, more efficient, and cost-effective.

Mining personnel commonly use methods such as hanging a camera through a borehole or attaching a camera to a pole to collect visual data inside stopes. However, these approaches are limited in coverage and often yield low-quality data.

With the introduction of indoor drones, mining personnel can now fly into stopes and take high-quality images and videos using an inspection drone equipped with LiDAR sensors that create real-time 3D models.

These models are useful for identifying erosion and mapping out equipment capacity within stopes, making mining operations more efficient and effective. The drones also feature unique lighting and stabilisation capabilities that enable pilots to focus on important details, providing even greater insight into the mining environment.

Data localisation can be used to help personnel return to the specific place where remaining ore was seen during a flight, or to a geotechnical area of interest or a potential hazard that requires further investigation.

The use of indoor drones for visual data collection in rugged internal conditions is proving to be an invaluable tool in mining operations. With their unique design and capabilities, indoor drones can access areas that are nearly impossible to reach using traditional tools or methods.

One such example is Flyability's Elios 3, which is specifically designed to operate in confined spaces with its collision-resistant cage design. Unlike other drones, which run the risk of crashing and falling to the bottom of a mine, the Elios 3 is capable of colliding with objects and continuing its flight, providing mining personnel with critical visual data that was previously unattainable.

Mining companies are turning to indoor drones to improve their operations and save money. These drones can quickly collect visual data inside assets that are difficult to access physically, such as the inside of a flotation cell or part of a mill.

This allows for quick spot checks, ultimately leading to improved maintenance procedures and reductions in both scheduled and unscheduled downtimes due to equipment failure. As the mining industry continues to face challenges, the use of indoor drones is proving to be a valuable solution for improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Indoor drones can also help keep valuable assets like muckers safe from falling debris by providing detailed insights into the conditions inside a stope. With a single mucker costing as much as a million dollars, the potential savings for mining companies can be significant.

In the past, miners were unable to enter a stope after a blast, making it difficult to perform safety assessments. However, the use of indoor drones to gather detailed visual data about the area has changed this. Mining operations rely heavily on industrial equipment for processing work, which requires periodic inspections. Traditional inspections are time-consuming, requiring inspectors to put on protective clothing and follow strict security protocols.

For the most dangerous areas, such as the stockpile feeder and mills, inspectors work as quickly as possible to avoid falling debris.

Inspecting flotation cells is particularly hazardous, as inspectors must enter confined spaces and stand on scaffolding while being exposed to noxious liquids and chemicals. The crushers are nearly impossible to inspect manually, leaving many mill operators waiting for a breakdown before conducting maintenance.

Fortunately, indoor drones offer a solution to these challenges. Using an indoor drone, inspectors can collect high-quality visual data without exposing themselves to hazards such as falling debris, noxious fumes, and working at dangerous heights.

These drones can fly through and around the stockpile feeder, mills, flotation cell, and even the crusher, providing better data than could be collected manually. By utilising indoor drones for inspections, mining operations can save time and reduce risks associated with maintenance procedures.

One of the main challenges associated with the adoption of new technology in mining is the resistance to change by workers. Many miners may perceive new technology as a threat to their job security and fear that it will eventually make their skills redundant. This may lead to a lack of buy-in and reluctance to adopt new technologies.

In addition, the lack of understanding of how new technology works or how to use it properly can also pose a significant challenge. The potential for errors or accidents increases when new technology is introduced without proper training or support.

Another challenge is that the adoption of some new technologies may require additional training. This can be time-consuming and expensive for mining companies, leading to delays in the adoption process. It may also create a barrier to entry for smaller mining companies that lack the resources to invest in training their employees.

As a result, such companies may continue to rely on outdated equipment and methods, which can impact their competitiveness and profitability. While the adoption of new technology has the potential to improve safety, increase efficiency and reduce costs in mining operations, its successful implementation requires overcoming various challenges that companies must work to address to ensure the smooth and successful integration of new technology into their operations.

Because of the environment, ground-based robots can't always provide a solution. Drone technology allows data gathering and inspections in places unsafe for humans and provides the mining industry with tools to maintain safety, reduce waste, and increase production.