**3D Maps from Elios 3 Help Mining Operation Identify Ore Pass Blockage in Just 10 Minutes**
A major mining operation used the Elios 3 drone to quickly identify the cause of an ore pass blockage, pinpointing its exact location and visualizing the clog through a detailed 3D map—within just 10 minutes. This fast and efficient solution saved time, reduced labor, and improved safety during the investigation.
**Key Benefits at a Glance**
| **Access** | **Speed** | **Precise Locational Data** |
|------------|-----------|-----------------------------|
| The Elios 3 was able to fly directly up the ore pass, capturing both visual and LiDAR data that were displayed on a 3D Live Map. This provided a clear view of the blockage, helping determine its cause efficiently. | The time required to find the cause of an ore pass blockage was drastically reduced—from two months to just ten minutes. | The 3D Live Map and geolocation data allowed mine personnel to see exactly where the blockage was located and how it was positioned within the ore pass, potentially saving weeks of drilling and exploration. |
**Introduction**
In mining operations, equipment such as LHDs (also known as muckers) is used to transport ore from a draw point to an ore pass—a vertical passage through which the ore falls. Once in the ore pass, the ore combines into a single raise and continues down to a haulage level, where trucks collect it for processing.
This entire system is known as an ore flow system. It's crucial that these ore passes remain open and free of blockages. However, sometimes a "hangup"—a blockage—can occur, and it becomes the responsibility of the mine staff to locate and remove it as quickly as possible to keep the system running smoothly.
**Customer Needs**
At a large mining operation in Colorado, a significant hangup occurred in an ore pass, preventing any ore from passing through. Initially, workers assumed the blockage was near the truck chute, but after inspecting the area, they couldn’t see anything visible.
They then used a CMS scanner to get a low-density point cloud of the raise and determined the blockage was approximately 27.5 meters (90 feet) up the pass. They started drilling exploratory holes from a higher level and inserting a sewer camera to try to locate the issue. Despite multiple attempts, they couldn’t clear the blockage, and after two months of effort, the area was abandoned without fully understanding the problem.
**Solution**
Later, Flyability pilots demonstrated the Elios 3 drone to the mine team. The Elios 3 provides live video and a 3D Live Model on a tablet, allowing users to see both what the drone sees and the surrounding environment in 3D. This made it an ideal tool for inspecting hard-to-reach areas like the ore pass.
**Results**
Within just 10 minutes, the Elios 3’s 3D Live Map identified the exact location of the blockage. The drone revealed that the hangup was caused by a single, massive rock rather than multiple smaller ones, which changed the approach needed to clear it.
Using this information, the mine could have drilled directly into the rock and used a controlled charge to break it apart, rather than relying on multiple small blasts that had previously failed. This would have significantly reduced the time and effort required to clear the pass.
**Benefits of Using the Elios 3**
- **Speed**: Reduced the time to identify the cause of the blockage from two months to just 10 minutes.
- **Access**: Enabled direct inspection of the ore pass, providing visual and LiDAR data in real-time.
- **Precise Locational Data**: Allowed accurate mapping of the blockage, avoiding unnecessary drilling.
- **Reduced Labor**: Saved over two months of work by identifying the issue quickly.
- **Reduced Downtime**: Minimized productivity loss by shortening the time the ore pass was out of commission.
**Conclusion**
The success of the Elios 3 in identifying the blockage has led the mine to plan for future use of the drone in similar situations. They also intend to use it for LiDAR and visual data collection in other inaccessible parts of the mine. With its ability to provide precise and timely information, the Elios 3 is proving to be a valuable asset in improving efficiency, safety, and accuracy across their operations.
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