Phoenix mine drone
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Inkonova AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 408 000 |
| Project duration | June 2017 - December 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme for Swedish mining and metal producing industry - SIP Swedish Mining Innovation |
| Call | SIP STRIM-spring 2017 |
Important results from the project
The work has been focused on the following areas: 1. Propeller aerodynamics 2. New drone concept 3. Increase platform reliability and anti-collision system
Expected long term effects
1. Propeller aerodynamics: by increasing the current propeller diameter by just 1-2 inches, the performance and handling in hot environments increases significantly. 2. New drone design: two central rotors will give us much better performance without really increase the overall drone size 3. Reliability and collision avoidance: most of the drone components have been characterised finding a number of critical points to improve. That led to designing our one custom motherboard. The anticollision system developed will help making reality autonomous missions in unknown areas.
Approach and implementation
1. Computational models were validated against in-house bench tests performed at Inkonova with a computerized thrust test stand for different rotational speeds in still air ambient conditions. 2. A new drone design with central propellers to increase thrust in same drone size and streamlined body to minimize heat transfer was conceptualized. 3. Reliability of the current mining drone and base of the Phoenix was performed as well as an underground custom collision avoidance system necessary for flying in unknown environments.