Tag Archives: Ola Rollén

Hexagon reveals two new autonomous reality capture solutions

Automation, Mine surveying, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , ,

Hexagon AB has announced the introduction of the Leica BLK ARC and the Leica BLK2FLY, extending its BLK series of autonomous reality capture solutions.

The Leica BLK ARC is a laser scanning sensor purposely built to improve the autonomous navigation of robots and other carrier platforms to deliver fully autonomous mobile laser scanning, Hexagon explains.

Combining its speed, accuracy and versatility with robotics, the BLK ARC addresses the growing demand for autonomous solutions that can safely and repeatedly capture accurate 3D point clouds and panoramic images of changing environments with minimal user intervention, it added.

The Leica BLK2FLY is the world’s first fully integrated, autonomous flying laser scanning sensor, the company claims.

“With a few simple taps on a tablet, users can quickly and easily scan structures and environments accurately and entirely from the air,” the company said. “The airborne scanning provides value across multiple industries in need of accurate data of inaccessible or hard-to-reach areas (eg façade projections, rooftops), ensuring complete capture of a structure’s exterior features and dimensions.”

The BLK ARC and BLK2FLY connect directly to Hexagon’s cloud-based visualisation platform, HxDR, where immediate data upload from the field, artificial intelligence-enabled cloud processing and storage of the captured data enables instant delivery of a purpose-built smart digital reality to anyone who needs it.

Hexagon President and CEO, Ola Rollén, said: “The BLK2FLY and BLK ARC illustrate Hexagon’s commitment to empowering an autonomous future with smart digital realities. The purposefully integrated sensor-software systems are tailored to bring autonomous agility and speed to any reality capture workflow. The robots, sensors and software work together, dynamically adjusting reality capture missions to offer seemingly limitless business applications – from as-built site documentation for buildings to monitoring and situational awareness of remote or hazardous environments, such as mines, factory floors, off-shore facilities, fire investigations and more.”

While the first robotic compatibility for the BLK ARC is with the Boston Dynamics Spot, it can be integrated with other autonomous robotic carriers, according to the company.

The BLK2FLY introduces the next generation of flight safety with advanced autonomous obstacle avoidance. Sensor fusion of LiDAR, radar, cameras and GNSS ensures optimal and safe flight paths, it said.

Hexagon adds Blast Movement Technologies to Smart Mine portfolio

Explosives and blasting, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , ,

Hexagon AB has acquired Blast Movement Technologies (BMT) from RCF Jolimont Mining Innovation in a deal that will see customers “extract greater profit from every blast”, the Stockholm-listed company said.

The acquisition of BMT, a pioneer in blast movement monitoring and analysis for open-pit mines, will complement Hexagon’s drill and blast solutions with accurate ore location information, according to Hexagon.

“The ability to accurately track blast movement is a huge benefit for mines striving to be smarter and more sustainable,” Hexagon said. “It’s a highly variable process that can cost mines millions of dollars in lost revenue per year from ore loss – where valuable ore is sent to the waste pile, and dilution – where waste is sent to the mill.”

Through a combination of sensors and software, BMT’s solution provides customers with accurate blast information that is used to recover all of a mine’s resources, Hexagon said. The patented solution collects data from blast movement sensors, which move with the blasted material. Software is used to transform the data into actionable insights – from the post-blast location of ore to the outputs of more precise dig lines based on the measured movement.

Hexagon President and CEO, Ola Rollén, said: “Today’s acquisition of BMT is a powerful addition to our Smart Mine portfolio, further closing the drill and blast loop for our customers and, ultimately, improving their ability to measure, manage and improve mining operations from pit to plant.”

Nick Hare, Hexagon’s Mining division COO, said the deal was great news for Hexagon customers. “The Blast Movement Technologies system is the only one of its type and generates significant profits for customers in every blast at over 120 open-pit mines globally. The company is rapidly growing and is becoming standard best practice for open-cut mining operations. It will be a highly valuable and complementary addition to our suite of pit-to-plant digital solutions.”

With offices worldwide, Brisbane-based BMT counts more than 100 customer sites mining nine commodities in nearly 40 countries. The company, which will continue to be run by Jacques Janse, CEO of BMT, will be fully consolidated and operate within the mining unit of Hexagon’s Geosystems division. BMT’s 2019 sales amounted to €19 million ($21.1 million), according to Hexagon.

Hexagon to fill the rockfall monitoring void with IDS GeoRadar RockSpot

Mine surveying, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , ,

Hexagon AB has announced the launch of IDS GeoRadar RockSpot, a radar system that fills a gap in the monitoring of natural and engineered slopes.

The system detects, tracks, and analyses the slightest movements from rockfalls, avalanches, and other fast-moving landslide debris flow, according to the company.

“RockSpot creates real-time alerts that can be connected to on-site alarms (eg sirens, automatic road closures or other alert devices). Georeferenced, recorded event data provides advanced statistics and analytics for risk assessment and vulnerability zone mapping, the company said.

Ola Rollén, Hexagon President and CEO, said Hexagon is committed to empowering customers to put data to work and, in the case of RockSpot, “they’re able to leverage data to protect workers and the general public in high-risk areas of potentially catastrophic events”.

He added: “This intelligent safety solution, designed to withstand all weather conditions, continuously monitors day and night.”

RockSpot can identify rockfalls up to 2 km from the slope, as well as avalanches and other fast-moving events, like mudflow and debris flow, up to 4 km from the slope.

With a coverage field of 40° vertical and 80°horizontal, the system can consistently monitor an entire mine wall or natural slope at high resolution with a single radar unit, according to the company.

Hexagon said: “RockSpot’s alerts can be customised sector by sector using advanced algorithms that distinguish rock movements from other moving objects, such as haul trucks, animals and people.”