The implementation of the xBot^® solution will revolutionise Caldius’ traditional surveying practices, allowing the WA-based mining company to safely monitor its site from the air, with the drone monitored by a pilot located at an off-site remote operating centre (ROC) in Perth or Adelaide.

The three-year agreement comprises the provision of an autonomous xBot® solution featuring:

• The SurveyBot^®, a state-of-the-art drone-in-a-box surveying system, equipped with DJI hardware and monitored remotely from RocketDNA’s advanced ROCs
• Integration of Strayos AI software for streamlined data processing, analysis and automated stockpile volumetric reporting
• Access to RocketDNA’s proprietary SiteTube^® data visualisation platform, ensuring secure hosting and seamless access to critical, real-time data

Deployed at Calidus’ Blue Bar pit, a satellite open pit operation located 70 km by gravel road from Calidus’ Warrawoona Gold Project, the SurveyBot^® system will deliver daily surveys, stockpile volume reports and real-time imagery, providing invaluable situational awareness to off-site personnel.

This reduces the frequency of and removes the need for extensive daily travel by a human to undertake site surveys or to respond to any potentially dangerous emergencies involving Calidus’ infrastructure.

It also leverages rapid data processing time and AI insights for mine optimisation and provides oversight of mining operations to remote senior management. 

RocketDNA CEO Christopher Clark expressed excitement about the transformative potential of the agreement stating: “By leveraging our innovative xBot^® technology and advanced AI-driven software, we are empowering mining companies to optimise their processes while minimising risk to personnel.

“The components within this specific contract also demonstrate the breadth of our product suite and how the different components of xBot^®, ROC, Strayos and Sitetube^® can be harnessed to provide an overall solution which will set new standards for efficiency, safety, and sustainability in the industry.”

RocketDNA is currently completing the assembly of its first batch of five xBots^® from in-stock components, one of which has been allocated to Calidus. After site safety reviews and preparation, it will be commissioned within the next three months.

With a strong focus on safety and efficiency, Calidus Resources Managing Director Dave Reeves says The Company is currently commencing operations at various satellite pits that are generally smaller in size and do not justify their own survey team on site.

“The xBot not only allows daily pickups for survey to be completed efficiently, but the associated video also allows our planning team in Perth to understand exactly how the operations are progressing and allow for rapid reaction if required.

“We look forward to partnering with RocketDNA and see great potential for this technology on our other sites as they come online”.

Assembly of the xBOT^® system is conducted in Perth, the system is approximately the size of two pallets, weighs just 100 kg and can easily be moved from location to location depending on requirements.

The DJI drones have a 7 km range and can be deployed as part of a network to cover large areas.

RocketDNA is the first Australian company to secure CASA approval for the cutting-edge DJI Dock System.

Source: https://www.rocketdna.com/

With a population of 51.97 million in an area of roughly 100,000 km², South Korea is among the more densely populated countries in the world. And despite its smaller size, it has a real GDP ranking in the global top 15 countries, which translates into high purchasing power. In other words, the country certainly has the financial capacity to be a leader in drone technology.

 But what can drones be used for in South Korea? In addition to already-popular drone shows, South Korea also has plenty of forests and approximately 70% of the country is considered mountainous. This bodes well for the aforementioned drone deliveries since drones are capable of traversing these terrains faster and more efficiently than other services (think medical emergencies).

Additionally, the urbanization rate of 81.5% is not only another good sign for deliveries, but it also suggests that the areas outside of cities are not so densely populated, which means that there is plenty of space for drones to operate in Energy, Agriculture, and Construction operations (the top three global industries). Finally, with an aging population and plenty of infrastructure that needs to be sustained, there is a lot of potential for automation, and this is something drones can excel at.

* All country data from the CIA World Factbook

Perhaps the most interesting observation here is that the two segments which are usually at the top of drone activities fall into fifth and sixth place within the Korean drone market. Drone Service Providers (DSPs), which are usually the most common type of drone company, represent only (10%) of drone companies in South Korea, while Training & Education companies also represent 10% (despite often being the second most common business focus).

And yet it is equally interesting to note that South Korea has a lot more mid-size drone companies than in the rest of the world. Although it is still the case that a majority of drone companies in South Korea have 50 employees or less (75%), there is a relatively high amount of companies with 50-200 employees (17%). In North America, this figure was only 9%, while the DACH Region only had about 6%. Essentially, medium-sized drone companies in South Korea are 2-3 times more common than in other wealthy economies, which is certainly a unique feature of the South Korean drone market.

What do drone companies in South Korea prioritize within this competitive landscape? Not surprisingly, the top priority in this market is also Marketing & Sales. After all, when competition is fierce, companies need to spend a lot of time and resources to stand out and increase their sales to solidify or expand their market position. Other top priorities are Software Development and Hardware Development, which once again suggests that the South Korean drone market is a bit more focused on producing drones themselves rather than selling them as a service.

Finally, two important points regarding proprieties and go beyond the results of the annual survey. The first is the importance of securing financial resources to continue growing. Many drone companies in South Korea find it difficult to acquire long-term contract funding, while others such as Pablo Air have chosen to prepare for an eventual IPO to expand their financial resources. Either way, increasing the amount of investment will be an important issue for South Korea. The second important issue for the South Korean drone market as a whole regards international growth. Although exports reached a level of US$11.1 million in 2023 and this was almost 5 times higher than the initial plan, it is nevertheless a sum that needs to continue to rise in order to realize the country’s full drone market potential.

KIAST and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Infrastructure of Korea have invited my organization, Best Events Productions and my association, Malaysian Autonomous Intelligence & Robotics Association (MyAIRA) to be co-organising partners of the Korea Drone Expo 9-11 May 2024.

Korea is offering a few complimentary exhibition booths for drone companies in ASEAN with a minimal admin fee to MyAIRA.

Contact hanniz@bestevents-asia.com to get the application forms. Applications close on 31st March 2024.

Interested in the South Korea Commercial Drone Market? Read more HERE

Note: The above information about drone companies in South Korea is based exclusively on data from DRONEII’s latest drone industry survey and is not a comprehensive drone market study. Therefore, it should be interpreted as a glimpse into the South Korean drone market rather than in-depth authoritative research. For a more thorough study, please contact info@droneii.com