AUTONOMY TAKES FLIGHT

UNDERSTANDING THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF AN UNDERGROUND STOPE CAN BE A CHALLENGE, BUT EMESENT HAS THE SOLUTION.

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As mining companies pursue safer and more efficient ways to explore and operate below the surface, Australian technology company Emesent is flying high with its cutting-edge autonomous drone and scanning solutions.

Founded in 2018 as a spin-out from CSIRO, Emesent has quickly grown into a global leader in autonomous mapping. At the heart of its success is its flagship Hovermap system.

A versatile LiDAR (light detection and ranging) mapping payload, Hovermap enables drones to map complex and GPS-denied environments, such as underground mines, tunnels and vertical shafts.

"Our core differentiator is autonomy," Emesent co-founder and chief strategy officer Stefan Hrabar told Australian Mining. "A lot of other scanning solutions require a pilot in line-of-sight or GPS availability. Hovermap enables full autonomy even in places where humans can’t go or see."

The Hovermap system has unlocked new possibilities for mine operators, particularly in stope mapping.

Understanding the shape and size of an underground stope has traditionally been a labour-intensive and risky task. Emesent's technology, in response, removes people from hazardous areas while providing accurate, high-resolution 3D data.

"We've had customers tell us they're capturing areas that were previously impossible to map," Hrabar said. "That kind of visibility improves safety, production and reconciliation."

Hovermap is equipped with Emesent's advanced SLAM (simultaneous localisation and mapping) algorithms, allowing it to map as it flies and localise itself in real-time. The system is drone-agnostic and can be handheld or mounted on ground vehicles for even greater flexibility.

Emesent's latest generation system, Hovermap ST-X, brings even more value to users with increased range, improved accuracy, and robust data capture in harsh conditions.