Objectives

With one year Action, WeARDMine specific objectives are:

• To miniaturize and autonomize the existing UAV technology used by Hovering Solutions ensuring its modularity, autonomous functionalities and high usability;
• To maximize its application on 4 mining use cases;
• To raise knowledge and acceptance within mining sector by the demonstration of the solution in a real scenario.

Impact

WeARDMine will develop and test the solution, thus presenting a reliable and usable set of tools to inspect confined spaces in a mine (silos, shafts, etc.) reducing maintenance inefficiencies, avoiding accidents, and facilitating an early response in case of incidents/accidents.

Use Cases

Quick Inspection missions The UAV should be able to perform quick inspection missions in a very easy and safe way, at operator request, more precisely:

• Quick visual inspection missions to check the status of an area within a 100 m range, sending images to the operator’s tablet.
• Quick inspections to check if an area is potentially dangerous checking non-visual parameters, e.g., gases.

Patrol mission Predictive or condition-based maintenance: the autonomous UAV can be permanently installed in specific mine facilities (such as galleries or underground spaces with difficult access). Swarm mode The UAV will focus on the robots collaboration to provide better communication coverage to the whole mine through a swarm of miniaturized UAVs and docking stations, including the most remote areas. Early response in case of health or safety emergency The miniaturized UAV can be used by mine workers combined with other wearable devices. In this scenario we will deal with the monitorization of health coming from a fitness tracker.

Innovations

• Easy to carry and easy to operate

The UAV should be small and light enough to allow the operator to easily carry it during his labour.

• Non-disturbing navigation

The UAV system should be integrated within the mine environment, performing anti-collision actions if a potential risk is detected.

• Risk detection & Intervention alarm

The UAV as an operator companion should be able to detect emergencies or risks to warn the operator or look for help if the operator requests assistance.