Mining Company Vale Starts Using Robots in Its Operations to Remove Workers from Risky Situations and Enhance Safety in the Brazilian Mining Industry

In Addition To Using Autonomous Trucks In Its Mining Operations, Vale Also Seeks The Safety Of Its Employees By Using Robots To Operate In High-Risk Activities

Vale is investing not only in autonomous trucks but also in various models of robots that assist employees in maintenance tasks, helping to remove them from hazardous situations and also aiming to make the company a reference in terms of safety in mining.

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Discover The Robots Used By Vale In The Mining Sector

The mining company currently works with three main robots. Two were developed by the Vale Technological Institute (ITV Mining), which resemble small carts, and another acquired from an international supplier, the Anymal, which was nicknamed “puppy”.

The ITV was established in 2010 and maintains a robotics cell that has been building robots, Artificial Intelligence solutions, and even drones to assist employees during operations in the mining sector. In 2015, Vale’s Speleology area started the EspeleoRobô project, taken over by ITV in 2016 in partnership with UFMG.

The robots are operated remotely by employees, using cameras and lighting systems. In addition, they can navigate rough terrains and were initially designed to assist spelunkers who work for Vale in mapping caves near mining operations.

Vale Robots Are Tested For Other Functions

Since 2017, the EspeleoRobô has begun being tested for other functions, such as inspections in confined spaces and areas that are difficult for employees to access. Inspections have already been conducted in pipelines, drains, and gallery systems, as well as operations on equipment at power plants. The robots have been used in over 15 different services in Vale’s operations in Minas Gerais, Pará, and Espírito Santo.

The robots have a mobility system that allows them to use wheels, tires, tracks, and even legs, enabling them to traverse various types of terrain. They also have a sensing system that allows for HD resolution inspections, 3D mapping capabilities, and other functionalities.

NASA Will Utilize Vale’s Robotic Modules

Recently, some robotic modules developed by ITV were lent to NASA. According to ITV researcher Maira Saboia, the modules are being used for an international challenge. In addition to this achievement, ITV is producing three more robots that will assist employees in copper mining operations in Pará and iron ore mining in Vitória (ES) and Itabira (MG).

In addition to developing equipment, Vale also purchased the Anymal, a quadruped robot from the Swiss company Anybotics. The project is already being utilized in mining operations with the support of a team of Vale employees.

This year, a proof of concept was completed at the Cauê plant in Minas Gerais. During the test, the Anymal navigated around the platform, overcame obstacles such as going up and down stairs, displayed a digital map of the area under inspection, planned routes and defined paths, focused on specific instruments and objects, captured thermal images with temperature measurements, transmitted images, and many other tasks, convincing Vale to proceed with its purchase.