Drones and the Future of Crushed and Broken Stone Mining and Quarrying
Overview
This guide focuses on the potential impact of drone technology on the crushed and broken stone mining and quarrying industry, providing key statistics demonstrating potential improvements in productivity, safety, and efficiency. The use of drone technology is showing promise in the provisions of precise data collection, safety enhancement, and potential cost savings within the mining and quarrying industry. Integrating reliable and functional software, such as 3Laws Robotics, with drone technologies might just be the way forward for this industry.
Data Collection and Efficiency
Drones are now able to capture footage and data with 80-95% accuracy, surpassing traditional surveying methods, which typically achieve around 80% accuracy. Using GPS technology, drones can access and scan hard-to-reach areas in a fraction of the time. Studies estimate that drones can complete surveying tasks up to five times faster than human surveyors, reducing labor time and costs. These UAVs' added accuracy and efficiency open new possibilities for ore extraction, stockpile estimation, and the management of mining and quarrying sites.
Safety Enhancement
Drones significantly reduce health and safety risks to workers. In the US alone, the mining and quarrying industry reported approximately 4,500 non-fatal injuries in 2017. Drones could decrease these figures drastically, as they can map and inspect dangerous areas without putting human lives at risk. They can also monitor real-time situations, providing an extra layer of security during disaster situations.
Cost Savings
The use of drones can lead to unexpected cost savings within the industry. It's estimated that drones could potentially reduce costs in the mapping and surveying sector of the mining and quarrying industry by up to 50%. Combining these tangible cost savings with the potential reduction in time typically spent surveying, these savings could significantly improve a company's bottom line and allow for greater investments in other areas of development.
Key Takeaways
- Drone technology can increase data collection accuracy to 80-95%, surpassing traditional surveying methods.
- Surveying tasks can potentially be completed up to five times faster with drones.
- The use of drones in the industry could decrease the annual number of non-fatal injuries significantly.
- Cost savings in the mapping and surveying sector of the industry could potentially reach 50% through the application of drone technology.
About 3Laws Robotics
3Laws Robotics is committed to enhancing safety and reliability in the realms of robotics and drone technology. Recognizing the significant challenges associated with robotics certification, 3Laws Robotics aims to simplify the process through its software, 3Laws Supervisor. Built on Control Barrier Functions technology developed at Caltech, 3Laws has various application potentials ranging from warehouse automation to human-robot interactions.
Their innovative software is adaptable and compatible with a wide range of platforms. By providing real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks, drones operating with 3Laws' software can work closer to their peak capabilities while maintaining safety. Their next-generation automated technology is focused on investing in safety and its potential in this industry could take drone technology to new heights, making 3Laws Robotics a noteworthy safety solution partner in the drive towards a safer, more efficient crushed and broken stone mining and quarrying industry.