Severstal is testing a technology that could redefine underground mine surveying and safety at Yakovlevsky GOK. An autonomous drone equipped with SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology can enter areas that are unsafe for personnel, producing highly accurate three-dimensional models of underground workings. The first trial, conducted at a depth of 425 meters, has been declared a success.
The drone, known as InnoSpector, uses SLAM technology to navigate without GPS or any external positioning signals. By simultaneously determining its location and mapping its surroundings, the system can operate independently in underground environments where conventional navigation systems are unavailable.
Its greatest advantage over traditional mine surveying methods is the ability to access restricted or hazardous areas. Handheld LiDAR scanners are effective only where surveyors can safely enter and remain at a secure distance. Vertical shafts, unstable voids, and zones with a high risk of rockfalls have long remained difficult—or impossible—to survey. The drone closes this gap by collecting data detailed enough to generate high-resolution three-dimensional models of underground excavations.
The technology was tested under demanding mining conditions at the 425-meter level of the mine. The drone completed the mission successfully, while engineers identified several software and hardware improvements for the next development stage. Once the system enters routine operation, the mine will be able to formally designate areas where human access is considered unnecessarily dangerous and revise its underground surveying procedures accordingly.
For now, the operation continues to rely on both conventional surveying equipment and the new autonomous platform. Specialists emphasize that the drone is intended to complement, rather than replace, traditional surveying methods by extending data collection into locations that are beyond the practical limits of manual inspection.
The project reflects a broader trend toward the digital transformation of Russia’s underground mining industry. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems, equipment health monitoring sensors, digital twins of underground workings, advanced analytics platforms, and artificial intelligence are increasingly becoming standard tools alongside traditional mining equipment.
A drone navigating through underground tunnels without GPS, communications infrastructure, or natural light is no longer a futuristic concept—it is already a practical tool. Yakovlevsky GOK is becoming a proving ground where new technologies are enhancing miner safety by reducing the need for personnel to enter the most hazardous parts of the mine.
Source: Severstal
Image: Yakovlevsky GOK Press Service
