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Mining Contract: Visual-Inertial Drone Navigation for Underground Mine Environments
Keywords: Communications equipment Emergency response
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Contract #
75D30118C02445Start Date
8/22/2018End Date
8/31/2019Research Concept
This technology will provide autonomous navigation solutions for drones in underground mine environments.
Contract Status & Impact
This contract is complete. To receive a copy of the final report, send a request to mining@cdc.gov.
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology stands to dramatically benefit the mining industry with the right adjustments. Currently, surface miners can operate UAVs—or drones—with little difficulty, as they can take advantage of global positioning systems (GPS) and, often, line-of-sight controls. GPS signals are not available in underground mines and underground mine layouts limits the range of line-of sight operation. Many underground mine operators have expressed interest in using them to inspect mines, check areas after a ground fall or other mining event, or go to parts of a mine where it may be unsafe for people to travel.
The contractor, SRI International, will develop and evaluate autonomous navigation solutions for drones operating in GPS-denied mining environments. SRI’s GPS-denied navigation system for drones uses cameras and inertial measurement units as core sensors and utilizes a cutting-edge visual-inertial simultaneous localization and mapping method to provide precise navigation solutions.
This contract tasks SRI to develop and evaluate autonomous navigation solutions for drones operating in GPS-denied mining environments, where there is total darkness. Additionally, the contractor will examine multiple ways to integrate information from available mine maps in order to improve the drone's navigation performance. The drone must be able to plan a route, autonomously navigate wide areas and be able to return to home base station.
See Also
Emergency Response Planning for Small Mines: Who Needs It?
A Global Inventory of Mine Rescue Training Facilities: Compendium of Ideas to Improve U.S. Coal Mine Rescue Training
Knowledge Management and Transfer for Mine Emergency Response
Mine Emergency Response Command Center Training Using Computer Simulation
Mine Rescue Training Facility Inventory - Compendium of Ideas to Improve US Coal Mine Rescue Training
Modernization and Further Development of the NIOSH Mine Emergency Response Training System (MERITS), Phase 1
Refuge Alternatives in Underground Coal Mines
Research and Development Contract for Coal Mine Communication System: Volume 1 - Summary and Results of System Study
Research and Development Contract for Coal Mine Communication System: Volume 2 - Mine Visits
Underground Mine Communications, Control and Monitoring
Page last reviewed: February 6, 2020
Page last updated: February 6, 2020
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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