Wedgetail Aerospace has approval to operate large-scale drones in commercial airspaceA researcher says the future of mining drones depends on how issues like privacy and wildlife safety are handled
Initially, flights will be for demonstration purposes only, but the company hopes to partner with players in the mining sector and apply for a licence to operate commercially in the near future. Mr Letts said the drones, manufactured by Austrian tech company Schiebel, came in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Shaun Van Goor, BHP's chief remote pilot, said drones were used by every single team within the company's mining operations."Surveyors no longer have to drive into active mining areas, geologist no longer have to walk up inclines on 40-degrees days, exposing themselves to environmental threats." "Our blast technicians … no longer have to walk over heat, exposing themselves to voids or cavities."