In 2022, ISS Aerospace conducted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based magnetometer survey in Canada’s far northeastern region, utilizing the company’s Sensus M8-XP multirotor UAV.
The expedition’s goal was to search for titanium reserves. Employing a flux gate magnetometer array mounted on a Sensus M8-XP, the team sought to detect buried ore deposits. For this particular mission, iron ore served as the titanium indicator, owing to its ferrous content’s magnetic properties.
The survey area presented numerous obstacles, characterized by its uneven landscape featuring sharp elevations and expansive forests. The rugged terrain, combined with the abundance of shallow waterways and rivers, rendered the site inaccessible by conventional vehicles. Consequently, all movement of personnel and equipment to, from, and within the survey zone relied exclusively on manned helicopters.
Previous surveys conducted by crewed aircraft had proven inadequate, lacking the necessary resolution and coverage for precise ground-based prospecting. The UAV approach proved invaluable in this context, offering enhanced detail in survey lines, lower flight capabilities, reduced overall expenses, and diminished safety risks for the team involved.
The operations were conducted in a turnkey fashion, leveraging Sensus command units and specialized mission planning software. Technicians input the survey location into the application, dividing the task into distinct sectors corresponding to various segments of the target area.
Upon uploading the flight plan, the UAV navigated the predetermined route autonomously, utilizing laser and radar altimeters to maintain accurate elevation above the varying terrain. As an additional safeguard, the Sensus UAV incorporates a 360° collision avoidance mechanism to circumvent potential obstacles.
ISS Aerospace offers the UAV configuration employed in this operation as an all-inclusive, ready-to-use package. The Sensus M8-XP UAV deployed for this survey features:
- Autonomous Pre-Planned Route Navigation
- High-Resolution 3D Magnetic Mapping Capabilities
- A Comprehensive 360º Collision Avoidance System
- Laser and Radar Altimeters
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