Anglo American's South African subsidiary, Kumba Iron Ore, has been awarded a licence to operate unmanned survey drones for the collection of data, removing the need for human workers to attend dangerous environments. The drones operate at heights of up to 1,000 ft, producing 3D maps through their cameras and laser scanners. Kumba is already using the technology at its Sishen mine. In addition to mining operations, drone operators can also be used in search and rescue operations.
Anglo American's South African subsidiary, Kumba Iron Ore, has been awarded a licence to operate unmanned survey drones for the collection of data, removing the need for human workers to attend dangerous environments. The drones operate at heights of up to 1,000 ft, producing 3D maps through their cameras and laser scanners. Kumba is already using the technology at its Sishen mine. Global drone spend will reach $9bn this year, with compound growth of 29.8% forecast by 2023, according to a report by International Data Corporation.