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The Future of Underground Mining is Autonomous
Autonomous robots drive safety and efficiency underground
Over the course of the past decade , management of safety risks . autonomous aerial robots and other
Autonomous robots are capable of unmanned robotic vehicles have become intelligently navigating and mapping unknown an indispensable tool in surveying and environments by using a complex algorithm monitoring underground environments like called Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping , mining tunnels and drifts , especially in postblast scenarios and in older workings being constructing or updating a map of an unknown
or SLAM . It ’ s a computational problem of reconsidered for use . These autonomous environment while simultaneously keeping track systems have taken on many jobs underground of the robot ’ s location within it . such as a driverless loader from Sandvik that
SLAM allows autonomous robots to explore , can be pre-programmed or piloted from the navigate and understand unknown surface , mapping small tunnels and drifts using environments without the need for pre-existing a semi-autonomous Spot from Boston maps or GPS . In the context of underground Dynamics , or even autonomously exploring and environments like mines or tunnels , SLAM can mapping large , unknown cavities using the enable autonomous robots to navigate and map Autonomy Level 4-powered ExynAero from Exyn these complex , dynamic Technologies . and potentially
Traditionally , the task of inspecting and hazardous spaces , assessing the safety of these underground improving safety and cavities and structures was carried out by human workers . This involved physically entering the tunnels , drifts and near the brow of open stopes with surveying equipment , often in efficiency for hazardous conditions , to visually inspect the survey teams area and identify any potential risks . This responsible for method was not only time-consuming and capturing accurate labour-intensive but also posed significant maps of ongoing safety risks to the workers involved and could operations . often result in an incomplete map of the area of And the interest , requiring costly rework . power of Today , equipped with advanced sensors and SLAM doesn ’ t stop once the robot lands . While
AI , autonomous vehicles can quickly and not in flight , those computational resources can accurately survey complex , dynamic be used to correct any errors accumulated in the environments while capturing high fidelity data point cloud map and georeference it to a known sets to be used for volumetric analysis or other coordinate frame for global accuracy . Most comparative studies . This allows for faster importantly , this post processing can be done by decision-making and more proactive the survey team while on-site right after an autonomous mission , ensuring that an accurate , complete point cloud is captured before moving onto the next area of interest .
Fast and accurate mapping of working underground environments are crucial for understanding when remedial work is needed to reinforce and stabilise mine structures to ensure their safety and longevity . By repeatedly scanning the same areas underground , survey teams can monitor tunnels and drifts for any changes in the shape or size , such as bulging walls or narrowing passages , which could indicate instability , or look for potential cracks or signs of damage .
By comparing point clouds taken over time , changes in the mine structure can be identified . This can help to detect slow-moving trends which can ' t be spotted in a single snapshot , such as gradual deformation of the mine walls or roof . This information can be used to predict when and where remedial work , such as bolting or shotcreting , might be needed .
Moreover , the high-resolution data provided by autonomous mapping systems can also be used to guide the remedial work . For example , it can help to determine the most effective locations for rock bolts , or the areas where shotcreting is most needed . They can also be used to measure the distance to the mine roof , which can be useful for planning equipment placement or extraction operations . They can also detect obstacles or hazards , such as fallen rocks , to help ensure the safety of workers .
Autonomous robots can provide a wealth of valuable data that can help to maintain the safety and integrity of a mine . By detecting changes in the mine structure and providing detailed , high-resolution data , they can help to predict and guide remedial work , improving the efficiency and safety of mining operations .
These autonomous and semiautonomous systems will continue to drive safety and efficiency in underground mining while continually pushing towards the future goal of a fully autonomous mining operation .
Imagine a survey team with a suite of autonomous robots at their fingertips , commanding missions and evaluating high resolution point clouds all from the surface while maintaining peak situational awareness of all work happening underground .
Exyn Technologies , 2118 Washington Avenue , Philadelphia , PA , 19146 , USA www . exyn . com
AUGUST 2023 | International Mining 11