In an age where the demand for minerals and resources is ever-increasing, the mining industry supports modern civilization. From the precious metals that power our technology to the building materials that erect our cities, mining plays an indispensable role in our daily lives.
Yet, this age-old industry has challenges. Miners worldwide face complex safety regulations and efficiency and environmental stewardship issues. Traditional mining methods often involve risks to human lives, are labor-intensive, and are not always efficient in accessing hard-to-reach deposits. Additionally, there's a constant push to reduce the environmental footprint and adhere to increasingly stringent regulations.
Collaborative people building collaborative technology – that’s Exyn. We are pioneers in developing autonomous aerial robotic systems for complex environments. Our drone technology, including the survey-grade industrial ExynAero, is designed to benefit survey teams in GPS-denied environments. With a ruggedized tablet for easy mission planning and point cloud post-processing while underground, the ExynAero ensures that teams confirm they've captured the necessary data sets before returning to the surface, reducing the chances of costly rework and increasing efficiency.
Whether using drones for coal mining, drones for uncovering precious metals, or drones for geophysical mining, the benefits of drone mapping with ExynAero go far beyond the typical understanding of drone technology. From our foundational expertise as a drone company to our adaptable solutions, Exyn Technologies stands at the forefront of drone mine automation, transforming how data is captured and utilized within the mining industry.
Read on to learn more about drones for mining applications and how this technology is revolutionizing the industry.
Surveying and mapping vast, inaccessible terrains has always been challenging. Mapping with an autonomous drone uses robotic airframes equipped with sophisticated sensors and a powerful SLAM algorithm to generate precise 3d point cloud maps in a fraction of the time it used to take, accelerating the planning process and providing a more comprehensive view of the available resources.
Monitoring the health of machinery and inspecting remote or dangerous areas of a mine site can be risky and time-consuming. Drones facilitate real-time monitoring and provide visual inspection without endangering human operators’ lives. Autonomous drones for inspection also significantly reduce downtime and associated costs by enabling predictive maintenance.
Worker safety remains paramount in the mining industry. A drone for mining will provide a new layer of protection by conducting surveillance in unstable or hazardous zones, delivering immediate data to support rapid response to emergencies. These devices are instrumental in creating a safer environment for workers by providing insights into potential risks.
Accurate measurement of stockpiles is vital for inventory control and financial reporting. Drones are equipped to measure volumes with pinpoint accuracy, replacing traditional methods that often result in errors. Automated and frequent stockpile measurements ensure that inventory data is always up-to-date and reliable.
Mine restoration is been quickly becoming more and more important in the mining industry. As sites get decommissioned, and operations cease, it becomes crucial to return these areas to a state that’s ecologically sound and sustainable. However, the post-mining phase isn't just about reclamation; it's also about the opportunity to identify leftover resources, ensuring that literally no stone remains unturned.
Drones now deploy to map and analyze mines that have long ceased operations to identify overlooked pockets of valuable resources. By providing a comprehensive and accurate view of the mine's layout and geology, surveyors can pinpoint areas where minerals, metals, or other resources are likely still present.
Stewart, British Columbia’s gold and silver mining experts, Ascot Resources, called in Exyn to use their autonomous aerial robots and drone-based mapping technology to help them determine remaining reserves in one of their oldest underground gold mines. The mine, closed since the 1940s, was inaccessible to humans but not Exyn’s drone-based mapping system technology.
Exyn’s drones require no prior knowledge of a site, no GPS, no specialized wireless infrastructure, and no pilot or communication with a ground control station, making exploration operations and mapping without human intervention entirely possible. This operation allowed the owners to conduct mineral exploration flights to make more accurate deposit predictions for investors, increasing financial returns and avoiding potential drawbacks of alternative methods.
Surveying with drones presents a significant opportunity for investors to extract every ounce of value from a mining site. With its possibility for high returns, autonomous drone technology is an attractive option that breathes new life into areas considered long exhausted.
Exyn’s drones have varying levels of autonomy and range from 1 to 5. Level 4A drones are self-reliant for open-ended exploration and do not require human interaction during flight. At Level 4A Autonomy, Exyn’s drones freely explore complex spaces, with a complete determination of flight path at 2+ meter/second flight speeds and with higher quality data collection in larger volumes. In ideal conditions, Exyn’s drones can cover 16 million cubic meters – the equivalent of nine football stadiums – in a single flight. Advanced flight functions remove the need for human involvement, allowing workers to remain safe throughout drone surveying missions.
Traditionally, survey teams work to map open stopes from the berm, regarded as the most dangerous part of a mine, for several reasons:
The danger associated with cave berms highlights the need for advanced monitoring techniques, such as those provided by specialized mining drones. 3D Drones allow teams to safely stand 30 - 40 meters from that berm and fly the robot into the unknown cavity.
In addition to making it easier to map unexplored areas, autonomous drone data provides real-time information on cave stability and condition and significantly reduces the risks associated with manual inspections.
Convergence monitoring involves observing and measuring the movement or deformation of the walls, roof, or other structural elements within a mine. This movement signals potential stability issues, particularly in underground mines where pressure from surrounding rock leads to shifts and changes.
Some areas may be challenging to reach for conventional manual measurements, especially if they show instability. In addition, understanding what the measurements mean, especially in real-time, requires expertise and sometimes sophisticated modeling.
Convergence monitoring in mining is a vital aspect of modern mining operations. By understanding how the mine behaves and responds to ongoing extraction, mining companies better maintain safety, optimize their operations, and predict issues before they become significant problems. Technologies like autonomous drones enhance this monitoring, providing new ways to gather and interpret essential data.
By incorporating technology like drones, mining operations further enhance safety protocols, protect workers, and maintain the structural integrity of the mining environment.
Implementing UAVs for mining translates into significant cost savings for mining companies. By reducing the need for human intervention in hazardous or remote locations, drones minimize the risk to personnel and the associated safety costs. Automating tasks such as surveying, inspection, and monitoring allows for a more streamlined workflow, reducing labor expenses and shortening project timelines, cutting operational costs for mines and potential sites.
At Exyn, we design state-of-the-art drones to integrate seamlessly into your existing operations, providing an efficient solution that aligns with your budget. A mine drone transforms the financial landscape of the mining industry by providing a cost-effective solution to several challenges:
Integrating drones into mining practices is vital to modernization, improving safety, efficiency, data accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. As the industry continues to evolve, drones are proving to be indispensable tools, setting new standards for excellence and innovation.
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At Exyn Technologies, we're not just a company that understands drones. Our core identity stems from our deep expertise in creating world-class autonomous systems. We're not merely a mapping company that needs to grapple with drone technology; we're innovators who capture high-value data from dangerous environments.
As we venture into a world increasingly dependent on a waning amount of minerals and resources, there's no denying that traditional mining methods face growing challenges. Drones, like the type provided by Exyn Technologies, are not just enhancing the mining industry — they're revolutionizing it. From unprecedented levels of safety to unparalleled efficiency, the era of drone integration in mining is upon us. For those seeking to stay ahead of the curve, it's time to look skyward and embrace the future. Ready to explore? We are ready to help you find the best drones for mining, and we invite you to book a demo to experience the Exyn advantage firsthand.
