Mining Drones for Streamlined and Affordable Usage

Drones for mining have always been known to prioritize speed and safety, but conventional mining methods are more likely to become at risk of flaws and inefficiencies. These can range from outdated surveying techniques to manual inspections.

However, drone technology has since revolutionized mining operations in recent years. The benefits of drone mining have made them much safer, more accurate, and cost-effective

What Are Drones for Mining?

Mining operations often require resources that are regularly used in traditional mining, which include manpower and bulky equipment. As a result, drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are emerging as a new feasible solution to the problems posed by traditional mining methods.
Drones have various features, including stereo cameras, hyperspectral sensors, infrared sensors, and laser range finders. Additionally, they can generate 3D models and point clouds, perfect for accurate mapping, surveying, and inspecting hazardous mining areas.
What better way to cut costs than game-changing technology that challenges traditional mining practices?

Types of Drones in Mining

As drones became generally accessible for businesses to use, the types of drones used in mining have also changed over the years. The following are the three types of drones primarily used in mining:

1.Fixed-wing Drones

Endurance is the main feature of fixed-wing drones, as they can fly for several hours. When it comes to surveying, mining areas that are larger and vast take time, but a fixed-wing drone makes monitoring vast areas that need exhaustive coverage easier.

2.Multirotor Drones

Multirotor drones use fixed-pitch propellers with more than two rotors, making it easier for them to maneuver. They can be classified into “T” shape, “Y” shape, and “X” shape configurations that can be tailored to your mining needs.
Because of their maneuverability and ability to hover, multirotor drones are used for monitoring, mapping, and other drone mining tasks.

3.Hybrid Drones

A combination of multirotor and fixed-wing drone models are classified as hybrid drones. The hybrid VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) drones have the operating power of fixed-wing drones and the mobility of multirotor drones.
Besides the onboard cameras and sensors of hybrid drones, they can also switch between hovering and long-distance flying to make 2D and 3D mapping easier. And with these features, surveyors sometimes opt for hybrid drones to gain an edge in mining operations.

Advantages of Using Drones in Mining Operations

Mining drones have spearheaded change in recent years as the mining industry experiences pressure to adopt safer, faster, and more cost-efficient technologies.
However, their speed and efficiency don’t just make them crucial mining tools. Drones are also key to speedy and informed decision-making. Here’s how:

1.Cost-effectiveness and Operational Efficiency

The first phases of mining operations often include extraction of metals like ore, and heavy machinery is needed for this task.With drones, mining companies become more cost-effective as they improve monitoring. The actual data visualization and collection that drones provide make mining more precise and time-efficient.
This improved performance means faster ore extraction while reducing injuries and accidents in mine shafts. With drone mining, companies see a bigger increase in savings.

2.Higher Safety Levels

Drones reduce underlying hazards and ensure site and personnel safety in mining operations, especially during active excavations and routine inspections.
Drones also provide real-time data collection, mapping, and so on. Miners and mining engineers have easier access to accurate site imagery, making safety decisions more straightforward.

3.Improved Data Accuracy

Unlike consumer-grade drones, commercial mining drones are made to withstand harsher environments. These include the higher temperatures and the amount of dust present in mine shafts.
On top of that, mining drone use sensors like LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to measure distances and create maps. With these tools, miners and mining engineers can assess mine shafts and other mining structures more precisely.

How are Drones Used in Mining Operations?

1.Land Surveying and Mapping

Surveying is a process that involves collecting data and images to measure and map out a site’s surface and underground areas. This task would be time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies using traditional survey methods.
With drone mining, engineers can create highly detailed 3D models and maps that give a complete picture of possible hazards. They can use these models and maps to be more precise with production monitoring and create better mining strategies.

2.Environmental Monitoring

Mining with drones is also used to monitor water quality for runoff and detect harmful gases in the air. Drones also monitor dams to prevent leakage that could cause significant environmental damage if left unattended.

3.Inspection and Maintenance

Mining companies often see site and asset inspections as additional expenses. However, with the help of mining drones, inspection and monitoring can be faster, safer, and more cost-effective.
Drones are also used to acquire stockpile data since their accuracy in checking inventory levels helps prevent shortages. Mining drones also aid in materials movement tracing, which allows engineers to create better logistics strategies.

What are Examples of Mining With Drones?

Real-world examples show that most mining firms that deployed mining drones have found short and long-term cost benefits. Over the past few years, mining firms have saved as much as 90% of the cost per hour using drones rather than crewed aircraft.

One case study from Anglo American features the Quellaveco copper mine in Peru, alongside UAV LATAM, whose drone-in-a-box technology reduced the travel time of trucks by 90%. Their drone-in-a-box technology included strategic dock placement, making site-wide communication easier.

Challenges of Drone Usage in Mining Operations

While the benefits of mining drones outweigh the cons, the mining industry still faces challenges when dealing with new technologies. Here are a few of the most common challenges businesses often face:

1.Technical Constraints

Mining drones face significant battery life and flight time hurdles, like other technologies. Drone pilots may need to swap batteries multiple times or drones for larger mining sites to cover the entire area.

2.Regulatory and Administrative Compliance

The use of mining drones might face more scrutiny from government bodies because they are relatively new technology. Pilots may face lengthy processes when acquiring licenses to fly drones.
Additionally, mining drones are also prone to hacking. Pilots and mining firms should also invest in robust security to prevent these cases.

The Future of Drone Mining

1.Automation and AI Integration

As environmental issues arise within the mining industry, AI-powered drones present a viable solution.
Optimization is accessible with AI-powered drones since they reduce downtime for better operational efficiency. These systems also help minimize waste since they carry out environmental monitoring for mining businesses.

2.Market Development

Numbers show that there is a rapid growth in the use of drones in the mining industry. With about 83% using it for mapping and surveying, 68% for control and inspection, and 44% for safety advancements. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are also used in drone mining to ensure precise calculations and spatial visualizations for quarry sites.

Take the Next Step with ZenaDrone

ZenaDrone’s multi-industrial drone solutions are engineered to improve safety, accuracy, and cost-efficiency. Drones in mining have tons of features like extended flight and high-resolution cameras, and ZenaDrone can be highly adjusted to suit your business’s needs.
Schedule an appointment and speak with one of our drone experts today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q 1: How are drones used in mining?

Drones in mining are used for improved access to mining sites without compromising safety, data accuracy, and performance. Mining drones are a cost-effective way of mining, arising from traditional mining methods.

Q 2: What are the applications of drones in mining?

Mining drones are mainly used for effective surveying, 2D and 3D mapping (using LiDAR technology for accurate information), environmental monitoring, and safer inspection and maintenance of mining sites.

Q 3: How are drones being used in mining?

Optimized mining drones are used to efficiently work on mining sites without the risk of being unsafe. Drones for mining are also used for minimizing waste in carrying out mining operations.