The Elios 2 was tested at a high altitude mine, located nearly 3 miles above sea level in the Andes Mountains, and it exceeded all expectations from the mining team.

Key Benefits in a Nutshell

Mining at High Altitudes

Volcan Compañía Minera SAA is a long-standing Peruvian mining company that has been operating since 1943. It manages multiple mines, including those focused on silver, zinc, copper, and lead, as well as hydroelectric power plants.

Many of Volcan’s operations are situated in the Andes Mountains, which stretch across western South America. These high-altitude locations present unique operational challenges, especially when it comes to equipment performance in oxygen-depleted environments.

The Andaychagua mine, one of Volcan’s largest, is located in Campamento Minero at nearly 3 miles above sea level (4,600 meters). This extreme elevation restricts the use of standard robotics, making specialized tools essential for safe and efficient operations.

The mine has two access points connected by single-lane roads and extends to a depth of 1,200 meters. Operations run continuously, with blasting occurring daily at 6 p.m., followed by ore extraction throughout the night. During the day, workers inspect and secure the mine for the next round of blasting.

Every day, about 2,500 tonnes of minerals—over 5.5 million pounds—are extracted from the Andaychagua mine, highlighting its significance in the region's mining industry.

Flying a Drone Inside a High-Altitude Mine

Administrators at the Andaychagua mine are always on the lookout for innovative tools to enhance safety and reduce costs. When they learned about Flyability’s Elios 2, a drone designed for harsh internal environments, they decided to test its performance at their high-altitude site.

The primary focus of the test included evaluating the drone’s capabilities, visual data quality, lighting effectiveness, and 3D modeling potential at 4,600 meters above sea level.

Surveying a High-Altitude Mine with the Elios

The test at the Andaychagua mine was a complete success. The Elios 2 operated smoothly despite the challenges of flying at such a high altitude, meeting all the expectations of the mining team.

A total of 40 flights were conducted, covering critical areas like chimneys, ore passes, ventilation tunnels, and stopes. The drone collected high-quality visual data and generated both detailed and sparse 3D models using software like Pix4D and Flyability’s Inspector 3.0.

Detailed models required several hours of processing but offered precise insights into mine conditions, while sparse models could be created in just 20–30 minutes, allowing for quick decision-making.

These models helped the team visualize the mine environment, identify potential ore deposits, and plan future operations more effectively.

High Altitude Considerations for Drones

Flying at such extreme altitudes required careful planning and adjustments. Here are some best practices followed during the mission:

• Flight time may decrease by up to 30% due to reduced air density.
• Allow motors to cool down between flights to prevent overheating.
• Fly down rather than up in tall structures to avoid motor strain.
• Use a fishing line to assist in controlling the drone in tight spaces.
• Let the drone acclimate to temperature and humidity before flight.
• Be prepared to manually adjust for wind when flying in Altitude mode.

Following the successful test, Volcan Compañía Minera is now considering adopting the Elios 2 for regular inspections at the Andaychagua mine and potentially other high-altitude sites across Peru. This marks a significant step forward in leveraging advanced drone technology for safer and more efficient mining operations at extreme elevations.

Warp Knitting Machine Accessories

Warp Knitting Machine accessories are parts that are used to enhance the functionality of warp knitting machine. These accessories are designed to enhance the performance of the machine and improve the quality of the knitted fabric.

1. Camera Detection: This accessory is used to detect any defects in the knitted fabric. It is a high-tech system that uses cameras to scan the fabric and identify any flaws or defects. The system can detect holes, dropped stitches, and other defects, which helps the operator to take corrective action immediately.

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Warp Knitting Machine Accessories

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