Marut Drones, India’s leading drone manufacturer provided drones to National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) to pioneer ‘Drone-Based Mineral Exploration’ in India. NMDC procured two customised Octacopter drones from Marut Drones. This collaboration marks a significant leap forward in the field of mineral exploration, introducing advanced technology to enhance precision in mineral exploration and mapping for sustainable mining practices.

Marut has achieved a historic milestone by producing India’s inaugural set of custom drones. These drones not only mark a first for the country but also introduce advanced sensors that are being utilised for the initial time in India, specifically designed for mineral exploration. Marut Drones’ Mineral Exploration Drone is packed with cutting-edge features including advanced sensors such as Magnetometer, Hyperspectral, and Lidar, enhancing its capabilities for accurate exploration and mapping. Its innovative coaxial design not only ensures stability but also facilitates precise manoeuvrability, a crucial aspect for effective mineral exploration.

Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO of Marut Drones expressed enthusiasm about the association with NMDC, stating, “We are the leading drone manufacturer in the country, building drones for agriculture, reforestation, and drone delivery. This is the first time in India, where we have built a drone for mineral exploration. It’s an Octaquad Coaxial X8 drone, we have specially designed for NMDC. Every aspect of this drone including the motors and the propeller systems have been made in India. It is through our Research & Development done in the state-of-the-art infrastructure; we have been building customised drones for different sectors in the country. We believe this is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the mining and exploration space. The introduction of drone-based mineral exploration aims to revolutionise exploration approaches, particularly in prospecting for critical minerals like lithium, copper, gold, diamond, rare earth elements, and other essential minerals.”

Drone-based hyperspectral magnetic exploration is initiated for the first time by NMDC and Drones are manufactured and calibrated by Marut Drones. The spacing and altitude for the flight are determined through mission planning followed with hyperspectral survey, ensuring a 30% overlap of the captured land during the drone flight. The acquired data is later processed using Hyperspec III and ENVI software by NMDC. Similarly, in drone-based magnetic surveying, the drones are calibrated, and the spacing and altitude are decided before planning the mission. Geometrics Magarrow Magnetometer is used for magnetic data acquisition, and Geometrics and Geosoft Oasis Montage softwares are employed for data processing by NMDC.

Thus, NMDC embraced a new era in mineral exploration; by using the groundbreaking drones delivery by Marut marks a significant shift from traditional methods. Historically burdened by cumbersome equipment and challenging terrains, the survey landscape is changing. The drones aim to make the magnetic survey not only five times faster but also ten times more cost-effective. This emerging technology allows drones to fly closer to the surface, enhancing data collection with higher resolution, making surveys more efficient and affordable from the outset.

The drone-based mineral exploration by NMDC is expected to bring about a significant shift in the current methods of mineral prospecting, revitalising mineral discoveries in the country, especially in greenfield deposits. The integration of advanced drones and Made in India components by Marut showcases the potential of indigenous technology to lead the way in sustainable mining practices.