UNEXMIN will develop a novel robotic system for the autonomous exploration and mapping of Europe’s flooded mines. The Robotic Explorer (UX-1) will use non-invasive methods for autonomous 3D mine mapping for gathering valuable geological and mineralogical information. This will open new exploration scenarios so that strategic decisions on the re-opening of Europe’s abandoned mines could be supported by actualised data that cannot be obtained by any other ways. Extensive pilots in real mines will take place during which UX-1 will be iteratively improved after each trial session, which will be increasingly demanding. The final, most ambitious demonstration will take place in the UK with the resurveying of the entire flooded section of the Ecton mine (UK) that nobody has seen for over 150 years.
CAR UPM-CSIC is in charge of the Autonomy for mine exploration and mapping tasks and cooperates in the multi-robot platform development and in the validation of robotic functions .
More information: UNEXMIN official site