India has witnessed a breakthrough in the mining and exploration space with the introduction of drone-based mineral exploration by Marut Drones, a Hyderabad-based dronetech startup. The company has delivered two customised Octacopter drones to NMDC Ltd, a state-run iron ore miner, which will enhance precision in mineral exploration and mapping for sustainable mining practices.
What are the features of the mineral exploration drones?
The mineral exploration drones are equipped with cutting-edge features including advanced sensors such as Magnetometer, Hyperspectral, and Lidar that enhance its capabilities for accurate exploration and mapping. Its innovative coaxial design not only ensures stability but also facilitates precise manoeuvrability, a crucial aspect for effective mineral exploration.
The drones also introduce advanced sensors that are being utilised for the first time in India, specifically designed for mineral exploration. The drones can prospect for critical minerals like lithium, copper, gold, diamond, rare earth elements, and other essential minerals.
How do the drones work?
The drones use hyperspectral magnetic exploration, which has been initiated for the first time by NMDC. The spacing and altitude for the flight are determined through mission planning followed with hyperspectral survey, which ensures a 30% overlap of the captured land during the drone flight. The acquired data is later processed using Hyperspec III and ENVI software by NMDC.
Similarly, in drone-based magnetic surveying, the drones are calibrated, and the spacing and altitude are decided before planning the mission. Geometrics Magarrow Magnetometer is used for magnetic data acquisition, and Geometrics and Geosoft Oasis Montage softwares are employed for data processing by NMDC.
What are the benefits of the drone-based mineral exploration?
The drone-based mineral exploration aims to revolutionize exploration approaches, particularly in prospecting for critical minerals that are vital for India’s energy security and strategic sectors. The drones can also reduce the cost and time of exploration, as well as minimise environmental impact and human risk.
Who are the key players behind this milestone?
Marut Drones is a Hyderabad-based dronetech startup that focuses on developing innovative solutions for various sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, mining, and surveillance. The company was founded by Prem Kumar Vislawath, Suraj Peddi, and Sai Kumar Chinthala in 2018.
NMDC Ltd is a state-owned iron ore miner that operates three iron ore complexes in India. It is also involved in other minerals such as diamond, limestone, dolomite, graphite, tin, tungsten, etc. It is a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Steel.
What are their views on this collaboration?
Marut Drones founder & CEO Prem Kumar Vislawath said: “This is the first time in India, where we have built a drone for mineral exploration. The Octaquad Coaxial X8 drone has been specially designed for NMDC. Every aspect of this drone including the motors and the propeller systems have been made in India. We believe this is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the mining and exploration space.”
NMDC director (technical) P K Satpathy said: “NMDC has always been at the forefront of adopting new technologies for enhancing efficiency and productivity. We are glad to collaborate with Marut Drones for introducing drone-based mineral exploration in India. This will help us in identifying new mineral deposits and optimising our existing operations.”