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Resilient Bio-inspired Modular Robotic Miners

Descripción del proyecto

Nuevo robot para minar en lugares de difícil acceso

La demanda europea de elementos de tierras raras es colmada con importaciones procedentes de otras partes del mundo. Estos materiales pueden encontrarse en Europa, pero son difíciles de extraer con la tecnología actual. El proyecto financiado con fondos europeos ROBOMINERS desarrolla un robot inspirado en la naturaleza, modular y reconfigurable para la extracción en depósitos pequeños y de difícil acceso. Este prototipo de robot está impulsado por una cadena de tracción hidráulica y músculos artificiales para la extracción subterránea, subacuática y superficial a través de una barrena de gran diámetro. ROBOMINERS evaluará la capacidad minera y la resiliencia del prototipo en una serie de condiciones y demostrará la capacidad de la nueva tecnología para acceder a materias primas minerales procedentes de fuentes nacionales inaccesibles o poco rentables.

Objetivo

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.

Convocatoria de propuestas

H2020-SC5-2018-2019-2020

Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria

Convocatoria de subcontratación

H2020-SC5-2018-2

Régimen de financiación

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinador

UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID
Aportación neta de la UEn
€ 711 875,00
Dirección
CALLE RAMIRO DE MAEZTU 7 EDIFICIO RECTORADO
28040 Madrid
España

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Región
Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid
Tipo de actividad
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Enlaces
Coste total
€ 711 875,00

Participantes (31)