ABB collaborates with drone system provider Kespry to help miners further optimise

Posted by Paul Moore on 17th September 2018

As part of its ongoing mission to deliver the true benefits of digital technologies via its unified, cross-industry digital offering ABB AbilityTM, ABB is collaborating with automated drone system provider Kespry on integrated aerial intelligence solutions for its process industries customers. “The operational impact of digitalisation 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 optimise their operations.  The intelligence provided by drones will help the process industries achieve higher levels of efficiency, productive resource use, and safety.”

More widespread use of drones to manage field assets will help process industries operators to optimise their operations. 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, analyse 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.

Eduardo Gallestey, Technology Manager for ABB’s Process Industries business unit: “Previously inaccessible field information can now be gathered, analysed and used to help make important production decisions. These systems with accurate and near real time information 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.