Periodic Reporting for period 3 - VAMOS (¡Viable and Alternative Mine Operating System!)
Reporting period: 2017-08-01 to 2019-01-31
¡VAMOS! will:
1. Develop a prototype underwater, remotely controlled, mining machine with associated launch and recovery equipment.
2. Enhance currently available underwater sensing, spatial awareness, navigational and positioning technology.
3. Provide an integrated solution for efficient Real-time Monitoring of Environmental Impact
4. Conduct field trials with the prototype equipment in abandoned and inactive mine sites with a range of rock types and at a range of submerged depths.
5. Evaluate the productivity and cost of operation to enable mine-ability and economic reassessment of the EU's mineral resources.
6. Maximize impact and enable the Market Up-Take of the proposed solutions by defining and overcoming the practicalities of the concept, proving the operational feasibility and the economic viability.
The ¡VAMOS! Innovations including the automated excavation equipment and environmental impact monitoring tools were field tested in a number of mine sites across Europe with a range of rock hardness and pit morphology.
The consortium identified 14 key ¡VAMOS! components which could be exploited either in combination or individually both for the original intended purpose and with modifications applied to related onshore and offshore industries. Market analysis shows that there is predicted growth and in particular a need to optimise production costs. Negotiations are underway between¡VAMOS! partners and external parties to further develop the approach.
The project was disseminated via 75 informal publications, at 10 exhibitions, in 35 conferences (4 as organiser) and approximately 300 social media activities.
From an equipment and innovation perspective the main items which have extended the state of the art are:
(a) Submerged cutting and ore collecting technologies and systems
(b) An underwater hydraulically powered tool changer.
(c) A configurable and modular launch and recovery vessel (LARV) system – which can be deployed within the standard EU transportation weight and width limits
(d) Improvements in dredge pump and slurry circuit technology
(e) Positioning, navigation and awareness capability in turbid and reflective environments within a supervisory system which provides an accurate real-time, virtual reality pilot view
(f) Improvements to LIBS ore-quality measurement techniques using an auto-learning database which is capable of immediate mineral identification – not just individual element spikes.
It is the combination of these items, along with existing technology, into an operating system that will derive the major benefits from a clean mineral extraction perspective going forward. We have successfully demonstrated the key aspects of this prototype system in real mines. The individual items themselves have application in many other areas such as mineral processing, offshore decommissioning and many other arenas.