How Autonomous Drones in Mining are Revolutionizing the Industry
0 likes59 views
The document discusses how autonomous drones and AI are transforming the mining industry by enhancing safety, efficiency, and accuracy. It highlights the applications of these technologies, which improve operations by monitoring equipment, optimizing processes, and gathering data without human operators, thus addressing industry challenges and minimizing environmental impact. Notable examples include Rio Tinto's and Barrick Gold’s successful implementation of autonomous systems to improve safety and productivity.
How Autonomous Drones in Mining are Revolutionizing the Industry
- 1. How Drone Autonomy and AI are Revolutionizing the Mining Industry: Advancements & Impact Discover how autonomous drones and AI are transforming the mining industry with improved efficiency, safety, and accuracy. Learn about the latest technological advancements that are driving this revolution. Powered by FlytNow
- 2. How a Combination of Drone Technology, Autonomy & AI are Redefining Mining Operations Drone technology is increasingly being used in the mining sector to enhance safety and efficiency. They provide access to difficult or unsafe areas like mine pits, tailing dams, and stockpiles. Drone surveys and mapping of mining sites quickly and accurately, allow companies to generate digital surface models and digital elevation models to not only provide an accurate representation of the site but to also optimize processes such as ore extraction and waste removal Additionally, drones monitor mining equipment and infrastructure, like conveyor belts and processing plants, for wear and tear, enabling timely maintenance and reducing downtime. By adding autonomy & AI to this mix, mining companies can gather data of large mine sites and monitor operations around the clock, without human operators, improving productivity and efficiency. AI can further analyze data to identify patterns and trends difficult for humans to detect. Companies can therefore have systematic data to make better decisions and reduce costs by identifying inefficiencies and areas for improvement. Introduction As Christopher puts it, "By combining drone autonomy and AI, a unique recipe begins to take shape. We can detect people and vehicles by applying AI models to thermal imagery captured by drones. When combined with autonomous drone-in-a-box solutions in mines and dangerous areas, it enables frequent drone flights that only activate when a vehicle or person is detected, presenting an exciting opportunity for drone autonomy and AI to collaborate." The mining industry may not be the most glamorous, but it is undeniably important to the global economy, providing us with the raw materials necessary for everything from building infrastructure to powering our electronics. In recent years, the industry however, has faced criticism for its environmental impact and the safety of its workers. As a result, the use of more drones for mining, autonomy, and artificial intelligence (AI) in mining has emerged as a potential solution to these challenges. During one of the NestGen'23 sessions, we spoke with Christopher Clark, CEO of Delta Drone International (ASX:DLT), a multi-national drones-as-a-service business dedicated to solving real-world challenges in the enterprise mining and agricultural industries by providing fully outsourced aerial drone data and solutions. In the session we discussed how a combination of drones, autonomy, and AI can help mining companies address many of the challenges they face and pave the way for a more efficient mining industry. Christopher Clark CEO of Delta Drone International Powered by FlytNow
- 3. Just to set some context, Christopher shares a typical scenario in a mine-site - “If you wanted to calculate the volume of a stockpile and essentially how much a mine is digging out the ground, you would have to send men who would manually walk these 30, 40 meter high stockpiles. Sometimes these could be coal stockpiles really, which sort of have the propensity to spontaneously combust. So your shoes would be melting, even as you're walking over these stockpiles. �And drones being able to immediately remove these types of surveyors from these stockpiles to provide them with immediate safety value. And we were very excited to see how drones have quickly become a part of the mining industry's daily routine and are only growing." Powered by FlytNow 1. Safety and reducing accidents By using autonomous systems and drones equipped with AI, mining companies can improve safety by reducing the need for workers to enter hazardous areas, such as steep slopes or unstable ground. These technologies can detect and predict safety hazards, allowing for proactive measures to prevent accidents. Autonomous drone systems enable mining companies to access hard-to-reach areas and monitor equipment and infrastructure on mine sites such as conveyor belts and processing plants for wear and tear, reducing downtime and preventing breakdowns. AI can further optimize mining processes like ore extraction and waste removal, leading to increased productivity and reduced costs. Some of the most promising applications of autonomous technologies and AI in the mining industry: 2. Productivity and efficiency 3. Decreasing environmental impact and increasing sustainability Drones and sensors monitor mining's effects on ecosystems, then AI analyzes the data to find improvements. These technologies enable targeted tracking of mining exploration' impact and efficient resource use, which minimizes damage and promotes responsible practices.
- 4. Powered by FlytNow Christopher highlights how Rio Tinto's Mine of the Future program is a successful example of utilizing technology to improve safety, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. Launched in 2008, the program uses autonomous technologies and AI to enhance mining processes. By incorporating autonomous trucks, drills, and trains, the company has decreased the number of workers on-site, while simultaneously improving safety and efficiency. A. Rio Tinto's Mine of the Future Program The Gudai-Darri Mine in Western Australia is an impressive instance of this program, as it is fully autonomous and remotely controlled from a central operations center, where workers monitor the mine's operations and make real-time decisions based on data gathered from sensors and cameras. This mine has been very successful, with Rio Tinto reporting significant value and improvements in safety, productivity, and cost reduction. With the use of autonomous technologies and AI, Rio Tinto has been able to minimize waste and increase accuracy in mineral extraction, resulting in better efficiency and productivity. Successful Case Studies ofAutomation Inthe Mining Industry Successful Case Studies ofAutomation
- 5. Powered by FlytNow Automation software such as FlytNow, enables businesses to deploy drone fleets on routine missions to capture visual data in real-time. Mine operators can schedule missions at a regular interval to track the progress of work in mining sites from the comfort of their offices. FlytNow for Autonomous Drone Data Collection B. Barrick Gold’s Digital Transformation Autonomous Haulage System (AHS): Powered by advanced sensors and GPS technology AHS allows the trucks to navigate the mine site and transport materials safely and efficiently without any human interference. Predictive Maintenance: Using data analytics, Barrick anticipates equipment failures before they occur. This allows for proactive maintenance, reducing downtime and improving productivity. Real-time Data Analytics: The company has invested in a real-time data analytics platform that enables them to collect, store, and analyze data from every stage of their mining operations. This allows for more informed decision-making, optimization of processes, and better resource allocation. Digital Mine Planning: By using advanced digital mine planning tools, Barrick created accurate and detailed models of the mine site, optimizing the layout of equipment and infrastructure, and minimizing waste and environmental impact. Safety Improvements: Barrick has implemented a number of safety initiatives, including the use of wearable technology to monitor workers' vital signs, real-time monitoring of hazardous areas, and the incorporation of safety protocols into their autonomous technologies. Drones can play a vital role in improving the safety of inspections in the oil and gas industry. With their ability to fly closer to the ground, drones can provide high-resolution aerial data Barrick, one of the world's leading gold mining companies, has implemented a range of innovative technologies to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability in their operations. These include:
- 6. Powered by FlytNow Apart from rapid data collection, FlytNow enables companies to integrate alarm monitoring systems, which enable drones to autonomously take off from docking stations, fly to precise locations, capture video feeds, relay them back to the command center, and return to the docking station without human interference. This feature provides mine operators with quick access to accurate incident reports, allowing them to respond promptly and effectively to any issues that arise. Want to see FlytNow in action? Want to see FlytNow in action? Schedule a demo