Project description
New robot to mine in hard-to-reach places
Europe's demand for rare earth elements is met by imports from elsewhere in the world. Such materials can be found in Europe, but are difficult to extract with current technology. The EU-funded ROBOMINERS project is developing a bio-inspired, modular and reconfigurable robot for mining small and difficult-to-access deposits. This prototype robot is powered by a hydraulic drivetrain and artificial muscles to mine underground, underwater and above water via a large diameter borehole. ROBOMINERS will test the prototype’s mining ability and resilience under a range of scenarios. It will demonstrate the new technology’s capability for accessing mineral raw materials from otherwise inaccessible or uneconomic domestic sources.
Objective
ROBOMINERS will develop a bio-inspired, modular and reconfigurable robot-miner for small and difficult to access deposits. The aim is to create a prototype robot that is capable of mining underground, underwater or above water, and can be delivered in modules to the deposit via a large diameter borehole. In the envisioned ROBOMINERS technology line, mining will take place underground, underwater in a flooded environment. A large diameter borehole is drilled from the surface to the mineral deposit. A modular mining machine is delivered in modules via the borehole. This will then self-assemble and begin its operation. Powered by a water hydraulic drivetrain and artificial muscles, the robot will have high power density and environmentally safe operation. Situational awareness and sensing is provided by novel body sensors, including artificial whiskers that will merge data in realtime with production sensors, optimising the rate of production and selection between different production methods. The produced high-grade mineral slurry is pumped to the surface, where it will be processed. The waste slurry could then be returned to the mine where it will backfill mined-out areas. ROBOMINERS will deliver proof of concept (TRL-4) of the feasibility of this technology line that can enable the EU have access to mineral raw materials from otherwise inaccessible or uneconomic domestic sources. This proof of concept will be delivered in the format of a new amphibious robot Miner Prototype that will be designed and constructed as a result of merging technologies from advanced robotics, mechatronics and mining engineering. Laboratory experiments will confirm the Miner’s key functions, such as modularity, configurability, selective mining ability and resilience under a range of operating scenarios. The Prototype Miner will then be used to study and advance future research challenges concerning scalability, swarming behaviour and operation in harsh environments.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringmining and mineral processing
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmechatronics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
28040 Madrid
Spain
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Participants (31)
33100 Tampere
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8700 Leoben
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1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
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2480-308 Porto De Mos
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38787 Santa Cruz De La Palma
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3515 Miskolc
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1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
53123 Bonn
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31 261 Krakow
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1000 Ljubljana
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335200 Brad
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
10680 Athens
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1249 280 Lisboa
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19086 Tallin
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
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DO2 TW21 Dublin 2
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06690 Ankara
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170 00 Praha
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
28027 Madrid
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00100 Helsinki
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1015 Budapest
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1113 Sofia
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11000 Beograd Savski
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00193 Roma
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10000 Zagreb
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1000 BRUSSEL
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1000 Ljubljana
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DE4 5JA Matlock
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1121 Budapest
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
12616 Tallinn
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31 261 Krakow
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99706 Sondershausen
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.