Drones for mining, metals and other industries

ABB is leading the digital transformation of the mining, pulp and paper, metals and other process industries, with the technologies, services and solutions that help customers realize tangible operational benefits from digitalization.  The company combines its deep industry knowledge and experience with an installed base of 70 million digitally enabled connected devices, 70,000 digital control systems and 6,000 enterprise software solutions. 

As part of its ongoing mission to deliver the true benefits of digital technologies via its unified, cross-industry digital offering ABB Ability™, ABB is collaborating with automated drone system provider Kespry on integrated aerial intelligence solutions for its process industries customers.

The operational impact of digitalization on the process industries is significant. For example, it is estimated that the implementation of digital technologies will help the mining industry save over $373 billion by 2025. More widespread use of drones to manage field assets will help process industries operators to optimize their operations.  The intelligence provided by drones will help the process industries achieve higher levels of efficiency, productive resource use, and safety.

Kespry’s automated drone and cloud based software system is used for stockyard inventory, mine planning, reserve exploration, reserve mapping, and site surveying, enabling customers to easily capture, view, analyze and share data with the touch of a button. Kespry’s mission is to transform the future of industrial work with market-leading drone and sensor technology.

“We are excited about the expanded possibilities that the integration of Kespry’s automated drone and cloud based software system can offer to our customers,” said Eduardo Gallestey, Technology Manager for ABB’s Process Industries business unit. “Previously inaccessible field information can now be gathered, analyzed and used to help make important production decisions. These systems provide accurate and near real time information and provide our customers with a more complete view into their operations.”

Many of the industries served by ABB will benefit from the integration of rich aerial data collected by unmanned drones.  For example, drones can collect intelligence for mining inspection, to inventory assets, measure stockpiles, track dust emissions and other safety conditions on site. Drones can also facilitate remote inspection of difficult to access areas such as shafts, tunnels, power lines, and assets, to ensure the safety and reliability of the infrastructure.

Kespry’s automated drone systems facilitate sensor fusion, which intelligently combines data from different sensors to improve performance. This provides a more complete understanding of process situations through sensor data such as ground-based telemetry, aerial thermographic and photographic input.