Could you elaborate more on inspections for MSHA compliance? What exactly do you need to look out for and how does the drone help do this?
Side note: Beware of the rolling shutter on the Skydio2 for mapping and DTM generation.
MSHA 56/57.18002
Examination of working places.
(a) A competent person designated by the operator shall examine each working place at least once each shift for conditions which may adversely affect safety of health. The operator shall promptly initiate appropriate action to correct such conditions.
As the mine designated competent person, I inspect daily for changes in slope stability of stockpiles, highwalls, pits, ponds, dams, ditches, buildings, electrical lines, signage, buildings, roads, berms, maintenance sites, equipment parking, out-of-service yards, barricaded areas, security gated entries, fences, etc. I use a drone for inspections where it is unsafe to be a pedestrian around mine machinery where access is hazardous such as the load / dump and haul traffic routes, in areas where non-routine inspection makes sense such as ponds, dams and outlets, electrical installations, radio repeaters, towers, and inspection of areas where miners are not working. The drone adds a new aerial perspective to work place examinations that a person on the ground sometimes misses.
As far as the Skydio2, it has real obstacle avoidance. For inspections it is the game changer....to inspect a haul route, including road conditions, signage, berms, drainage, loading and dumping sites, all you have to do is "lock" on a truck and the drone follows it. In the meantime, I monitor issues and progress and if the drone battery is low, it goes home and lands at its cage and the drawer closes to keep it safe and healthy! Nothing is simpler.
