Gold Mining News Hubb
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Gold News
  • Mining News
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Gold News
  • Mining News
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
Gold Mining News Hubb
No Result
View All Result
Home Mining News

indispensable tools for the future of mining

admin by admin
October 26, 2022
in Mining News


Drones can inspect high walls or underwater mine regions. Credit: Ansario / Shutterstock.

In its upcoming report, Thematic Research: Robotics in Mining, GlobalData says that robotic technology is indispensable for any mining company that wishes to be competitive. The three common goals of mining companies – safety, productivity and sustainability – can all be supported by robotic deployment. And, it is a growing market: the revenue of the industrial robotics sector was $14.6bn in 2020, and this is forecast to reach $352.1bn by 2030. The CAGR over this decade will be 37.5%.

Safety

A surefire way to improve safety is to remove human workers from hazardous areas. Drilling rigs can instead be operated and supervised remotely, rather than on-site. Haulage can be done without human drivers, underground tasks can be done without a human presence, and the inspection of high walls or underwater regions can be done by drones, land rovers and underwater robots.

At the BHP Nickel West drill mine in 2018, a dangerously over-pressurised water pipe was detected far underground in a drill hole. BHP enlisted the robotics expertise of Woodside and Deakin University, as well as staff from the University of Texas, Clearpath and NASA. The robot was remotely guided through the tunnel and up to the pipe. The cutting of the pipe was successful and a human team then entered to retrieve the robot. The high-risk operation would have been far more dangerous, and likely less successful, were it not for the robotic equipment and the ability to operate it from a safe distance. It also streamlined the entire process; there were less than two weeks between the detection of the issue and its resolution.

Productivity

Productivity is improved too, primarily because robotic technology is more precise, reliable and enduring than human labour. Drills can follow specified boring patterns and calculate the optimal amount of explosives needed to fill. Haulage trucks can drive without stopping for breaks or staff changes, and underground mining can be done without waiting for the smoke from detonations to clear.

On June 21, 2022, Rio Tinto opened its most technologically sophisticated mine to date. Gudai-Darri is an iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Australia. Since the expected lifetime is 40 years and the expected annual volume is 43 million tons, it made sense to install the best technology possible. The iron ore chief executive said, “Gudai-Darri represents a step-change in the deployment of automation and automation within our iron ore business”. As a result, Rio Tinto collaborated with Caterpillar to develop new autonomous water carts. The carts will be used for dust suppression. Their sensors assess road dryness and use water automatically, and the data they collect will enable operators to monitor and improve water use.

Sustainability

The main contribution of robotics to the sustainability of a mine is the reduction of energy expenditure. Remotely-operated and automated vehicles consume far less fuel, since their operation involves much less stopping and starting. Modern robotic technology uses batteries, rather than fossil fuel, for power.

The EU-funded UNEXMiN programme uses robot technology to explore closed, flooded mines with robots for valuable minerals. Obtaining metals and minerals from existing sites involves far less environmental disruption than opening new mines, but they are extremely difficult to explore. The UX-1 robot, first deployed in Slovenia in December 2018, uses ultraspectral cameras to identify minerals under the dark, murky water. It was used for ‘non-invasive autonomous 3D mine mapping’.

Do the robot

With this in mind, robotics appears to be a win-win-win for mining companies.





Source link

Previous Post

Hope for SA’s minerals export sector as Transnet gets R5.8bn Govt. bailout

Next Post

Breaking Down Global Life Expectancy Trends

Next Post

Breaking Down Global Life Expectancy Trends

Recommended

Rio Tinto to move ahead with $40m Diavik mine expansion

February 26, 2023

US bank stocks slump as Silicon Valley Bank collapse stirs market turmoil

March 13, 2023

Don't miss it

Gold News

PDP constitutes Caretaker Committee for Katsina

March 23, 2023
Mining News

Visualizing 90 Years of Stock and Bond Portfolio Performance

March 23, 2023
Mining News

Mining firm Orica opts for Ceridian’s Dayforce HCM tech

March 23, 2023
Gold News

SA vs The World: How will Harmony’s board vote in era-defining decision?

March 23, 2023
Gold News

Top Five Oil and Gas Projects in Angola

March 23, 2023
Gold News

PDP’s Peter Mbah wins Enugu governorship election

March 22, 2023

gold mining-66

© 2022 Gold Mining News Hubb All rights reserved.

Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • Gold News
  • Mining News
  • Contact us

Newsletter Sign Up

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Gold News
  • Mining News
  • Contact us

© 2022 Gold Mining News Hubb All rights reserved.