The mining sector was one of the industries credited with rapidly evolving industrial drone applications at this week’s Commercial UAV Expo.
As part of a session focused on the broader topic of mining and aggregates, expo attendees were able to learn about selected drone application experiences as shared by representatives from both Barrick Goldstrike and Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper.
Andrew Carey, chief UAV controller for Rio Tinto Kennecott, said that the company only started operating drones in the past year and now has 27 pilots flying a UAV fleet that includes the DJI Phantom 4 Pro.
‘Within a year