About the Client

Anglo American is one of the world’s leading mining companies, with operations across Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Their Los Bronces operation in Chile is a large-scale open-pit copper and molybdenum mine located in the Andes Mountains at over 3,500 metres above sea level. As part of their commitment to innovation and safety, Anglo American continuously explores technologies that enhance operational visibility, minimize risk to personnel, and improve decision-making.

The Challenge

Anglo American needed a reliable and efficient solution to inspect critical underground assets in the Los Bronces mine, such as confined spaces with limited visibility or areas affected by geotechnical instability.

The key requirements included:

  • Remote inspection capabilities in restricted or hazardous zones
  • High-resolution visual data acquisition
  • Autonomous or semi-autonomous navigation
  • Minimal disruption to existing mine operations
  • Operation at high altitude with variable lighting and rough terrain

Traditional inspection methods required personnel to enter unsafe areas, relying on visual estimation or static cameras, posing significant safety risks and limiting data quality.

The Solution

SK Godelius designed and deployed a robotic inspection system specifically tailored for underground infrastructure. The solution was based on a tracked robotic platform capable of navigating uneven surfaces, with a modular design that allowed for the integration of various sensors and payloads.

Key Technical Features:

  • HD and thermal imaging cameras for real-time inspection and anomaly detection
  • 360° panoramic vision system with lighting adaptation for low-light environments
  • Laser rangefinders for mapping narrow corridors and obstacle avoidance
  • Wireless communication module integrated with Los Bronces’ underground network (including leaky feeder)
  • Semi-autonomous control system with manual override, allowing for remote intervention from a surface-level operations centre
  • Ruggedized platform rated for harsh conditions and long operation time

The robot provided key data, recorded footage for post-inspection analysis, and geo-referenced data to support maintenance planning and operational decisions.

Outcome:

  • Successful remote inspection of critical underground assets with no human entry
  • Improved safety by removing personnel from high-risk zones
  • Enhanced operational insight through detailed visual and thermal data
  • Flexible deployment model for other Anglo American operations with similar needs

The project with Los Bronces reflects SK Godelius’ mission to develop robotic systems that protect people while improving operational performance, especially in the most extreme and complex environments of the mining sector.