The Elios 2 was put to the test at a high-altitude mine nearly 3 miles above sea level in the Andes Mountains, and it exceeded the expectations of the mining team.

Key Benefits at a Glance

Mining at Extreme Altitudes

Volcan Compañía Minera SAA is a Peruvian mining company that has been operating since 1943. It manages multiple mines producing silver, zinc, copper, and lead, along with hydroelectric power plants.

Many of its mines are located deep in the Andes Mountains, which span much of western South America. Operating in such high altitudes presents unique challenges, particularly due to thin air, which can affect the performance of standard equipment.

The Andaychagua mine, one of Volcan’s largest, sits at almost 3 miles above sea level (4,600 meters). This extreme altitude limits the types of robotics that can be used effectively, as many systems may not function properly in low-oxygen environments.

The mine has two entry points and extends down to a depth of 1,200 meters. It operates continuously, with blasting occurring daily and ore extraction happening throughout the night. During the day, workers inspect and prepare the mine for the next round of blasting.

Every day, approximately 2,500 tonnes of minerals are extracted from the Andaychagua mine—equivalent to over 5.5 million pounds.

Flying a Drone in a High-Altitude Mine

The administrators at Andaychagua were eager to explore new tools that could enhance efficiency and safety. When they heard about Flyability’s Elios 2, a drone designed for harsh internal environments, they decided to test it at their high-altitude mine.

The primary focus of the test included:

• Capabilities: Can the Elios 2 operate indoors at 4,600 meters?
• Visual Data: What kind of visual data can it capture, and how good is the quality?
• Lighting: Is the drone’s lighting sufficient for detailed inspections?
• 3D Models: Can 3D models be created using data from the Elios 2, and how long does it take?

Surveying the Mine with the Elios 2

The test at Andaychagua was a complete success. The Elios 2 operated smoothly despite the high altitude and met all the requirements set by the mining team.

Over 40 flights were conducted, covering key areas like chimneys, ore passes, ventilation tunnels, and stopes. Visual data collected was of high quality, and no additional lighting was needed.

Four 3D models were created using Pix4D software, while sparse models were made with Flyability’s Inspector 3.0. These models helped identify potential ore deposits and provided valuable insights for future planning.

Both detailed and sparse models proved useful, with the latter being generated in just 20–30 minutes, making them ideal for quick assessments.

Best Practices for High-Altitude Drone Operations

Flyability’s team followed several best practices to ensure the mission's success:

• Flight Time: Expect up to 30% less flight time due to reduced air density.
• Motor Maintenance: Allow motors to cool between flights to prevent overheating.
• Ascension Challenges: Fly downward when possible, or use a fishing line to lower the drone and reduce motor strain.
• Temperature and Humidity: Let the drone acclimate before flying and clean the lens for optimal performance.
• Wind Management: Manual control is required when flying in altitude mode due to strong wind currents.

Given the successful results, Volcan is now considering adopting the Elios 2 for regular inspections at the Andaychagua mine and potentially other high-altitude sites across Peru. This test has demonstrated that the Elios 2 is a reliable tool even in the most demanding environments.

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