There is plenty of equipment that we expect to see in an underground mine – from bulldozers to wheel loaders, reamers, excavators, and more. We are used to supersized machinery, which is instrumental to ensuring safety and efficiency. Compared to the giant machinery typically used underground, the new tools creating a buzz – drones – are somewhat unexpected. Measuring as small as 60 x 60 cm, drones are driving innovation in massive ways, reminding us that even smaller equipment can have a profound impact.
Surface mines have been deploying drones for years, typically for overground maps or to track excavations. The underground environment presents unique challenges which have, until recently, made it borderline impossible to use drones. Over the past few years, drones have been deployed underground with great success. These drones have to be robust and highly specialised, capable of operating without GPS. In many mines, the selected underground mine drone is the Elios 3 by Flyability.
The Elios 3 is a unique surveying drone. It can simultaneously gather multiple forms of data, permitting multi-function inspections with custom processing software for detailed analysis. The solution features a 4K camera and thermal camera, as well as a centimetre-accurate LiDAR payload designed by FARO. By comparing LiDAR scans and visual inspections, inspectors can see the exact condition of a tunnel, machine, or asset as well as the location of any defects they identify.
More recently, the solution has integrated an ultrasonic thickness payload, allowing it to also measure the thickness of materials, with these measurements localised within the LiDAR point cloud. The drone’s modular design, payload portfolio, and tailored software give it the flexibility needed to operate underground and in confined spaces.
This is a preview of an article that was originally published in the September 2025 issue of Global Mining Review. Subscribe to Global Mining Review for free to read this article in full and many more here.