In addition to using autonomous trucks in its mining operations, the mining company Vale also seeks the safety of its employees by using robots to act in risky operations.

Mineradora Vale, in addition to investing in autonomous trucks, is also investing in several models of robots that help employees with maintenance tasks, helping them to be removed from risky situations and also with the idea of ​​transforming the company into a reference in this regard. mining safety.

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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 Mineração), which resemble carts and another acquired by an international supplier, Anymal, which was named “cachorrinho”.

ITV was created in 2010 and maintains a robotics cell that has been building robots, Artificial Intelligence solutions and even drones to cooperate with employees during operations in the mining sector. In 2015, the Speleology area at Mineradora Vale started the EspeleoRobô project, undertaken by ITV in 2016 in partnership with UFMG.

The robots are operated by employees remotely, with cameras and a lighting system. In addition, they can move over more robust terrain and were initially designed to help speleologists who provide services to the mining company Vale by mapping caves close to mining operations.

Vale robots are tested in other functions

As of 2017, EspeleoRobô began to be tested in other functions, such as inspections in confined environments that are difficult for employees to access. Inspections have already been carried out on piping, drains and galleries, in addition to operations on plant equipment. The robots have already been used in more than 15 different services in Mineradora Vale's operations in Minas Gerais, Pará and Espírito Santo.

The robots have a locomotion system that allows them to use wheels, tires, tracks and even legs, giving them the possibility to move on various types of terrain. They also have a sensing system that allows inspection in HD resolution, generation of three-dimensional maps, in addition to other capabilities.

NASA will use robotic modules from Vale

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

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

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