Inkonova, start-up supported by EIT RawMaterials, secures its first commercial order for the Batonomous system with LKAB, core industry partner of the EIT RawMaterials.

On 23 April, Inkonova received the first commercial service purchase order for a scanning mission using the Batonomous system, autonomy for aerial robotics without light or infrastructure – GPS, beacons, video, etc., from LKAB Malmberget. LKAB is a high-tech international minerals group, a world-leading producer of processed iron ore products for steelmaking, and a growing supplier of mineral products for other industrial sectors.

The purchase order came after a prior demo of the system in late February this year, the demo was conducted in Gällivare in Northern Sweden, beyond the Arctic Circle. LKAB owns the biggest underground iron ore mine in the world, located in Kiruna. The service mission is scheduled for the first half of June 2018.

The mission aims to survey zones deemed difficult or impossible with the previous state of technology. The inclination, the terrain of the shaft, the danger of collapse and falling rocks, absence of light, GPS, vision and prior knowledge, all make it a challenge to survey and map these areas. Nevertheless, the lack of data from these zones cause weeks of delay, and a multitude of errors, and thus millions in monetary loss.

The Batonomous technology, along with other Inkonova’s systems, specialize in enabling autonomous aerial robotics in spaces where no other survey platforms can be used, particularly in autonomous navigation where all infrastructure is absent, no prior map exists, and the environment has a challenge.

Inkonova aerial robotics solutions have been since 2016 catering for the underground mining market in North America, South America, Africa and Europe with products such as the TILT Ranger, TILT Scout and most recently the Batonomous.