Sensor Integration and Performance Optimizations for Mineral Exploration using Large-scale Hybrid Multirotor UAVs

Abstract

In this paper, the focus is on improving the efficiency and precision of mineral data collection using UAVs by addressing key challenges associated with sensor integration. These challenges include mitigating electromagnetic interference, reducing vibration noise, and ensuring consistent sensor performance during flight. The paper demonstrates how innovative approaches to these issues can significantly transform UAV-assisted mineral data collection. Through meticulous design, testing, and evaluation, the study presents experimental evidence of the efficacy of these methods in collecting mineral data via UAVs. The advancements achieved in this research enable the UAV platform to remain airborne up to 6$\times$ longer than standard battery-powered multirotors, while still gathering high-quality mineral data. This leads to increased operational efficiency and reduced costs in UAV-based mineral data-gathering processes

Figures (7)

• Figure 1: Suspended multiple payload system, VLF EM (bottom) and magnetometer (above) utilizing a four-cable suspension system while in flight.
• Figure 2: Two styles of vibration isolators retrofitted to 3D printed mock vibration measurement payload (left wire rope isolators and right rubber ball dampers), also real radiometric sensor (center right) vs mock payload (center left) comparison.
• Figure 3: Example testing configuration for metal wire vibration isolators in optimal positioning and orientation.
• Figure 4: Initial vibrations present in frame (top) measured from payload, and Vibrations measured in payload after damping (bottom) in $m/s^{2}$.
• Figure 5: The VLF-EM roll variations for the unprocessed m2 flight data.