UAVs & Drones
MINERS face numerous health and safety threats.
Over the past decade, the industry has sought to improve miners’ health and safety by leveraging advances in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
UAS can remain on-station for hours; capture live video and imagery during various weather conditions; and quickly scan hundreds of square kilometres of ground – all while keeping operators out of harm’s way.
However, to achieve these results in austere operational environments, system reliability is critical.
Textron Systems, which has a longstanding presence in Australia through its Melbourne facility, has built and operated UAS for several decades in military, civil, academic and industry applications.
“Maturity and reliability are critical for mining-related operations,” Textron Systems Australia managing director Jack Kormas said.
“For example, our Aerosonde UAS has logged more than 275,000 flight hours and excels at large-area coverage — offering more than 15 hours of flight endurance and the ability to cover 200 km in five hours.
“Its payload capacity of approximately 10kg allows for a variety of cameras or sensors, providing high-definition, still or live aerial imagery and data by day or night.”
UAS, like the Aerosonde, allow miners to inspect and survey more ground, quickly, all while keeping the miner at a safe distance.