In the field of mining and resource exploration, industrial drones, with their high-altitude perspective and precise detection capabilities, have reshaped the operation mode of traditional mining. Mining exploration drones are equipped with high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR), gamma-ray spectrometers, and thermal infrared sensors, which can penetrate vegetation and shallow soil layers, and quickly identify the distribution range of metal ore veins (such as gold, copper, iron) and oil and gas reservoirs. A single flight can cover a mining area of 200 square kilometers, generating high-precision geological cross-sections, increasing the efficiency by more than 10 times compared with manual exploration, and greatly reducing the cost and risk of field operations.
The intelligent exploration process of drones supports fully automated operation: By delineating the target area through satellite remote sensing data, the drone conducts multi-spectral scanning according to the preset route and real-time transmits mineral spectral data back. The AI algorithm automatically matches the geological database, delineates the high-grade mineralized area, and achieves a positioning accuracy within 10 meters. In open-pit mines, the lidar carried by drones can quickly calculate the ore reserves and generate a 3D stockpile model, providing data support for the mining plan; in underground mines, micro-drones can penetrate into the roadways to detect the concentration of harmful gases (such as gas and dust), avoiding personnel from entering high-risk areas.
Compared with traditional exploration methods, the advantages of mining drones lie in "wide-area coverage, precise positioning, safety, and efficiency": There is no need for a large number of people to trek through rugged terrain, and it is not restricted by vegetation and climate. The exploration cycle is shortened from several months to a few days. For example, in the exploration of copper mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, a group of drones cooperated with ground drilling to increase the efficiency of resource exploration by 40% and reduce the cost by 30%. With the growing global demand for mineral resources, mining exploration drones are becoming the core equipment of smart mining, promoting the transformation of the mining industry from "extensive exploration" to "precise development", and empowering the sustainable development of resource-based industries with technology.
