Autonomous Aeromagnetic Surveys Using a Fluxgate Magnetometer

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Robotics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Autonomous vehicles offer potential for mining exploration, but sensor integration for geophysical surveys remains a challenge.
• Existing geophysical sensors are often not optimized for deployment on autonomous platforms like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
• The mining industry requires efficient and versatile methods for subsurface mineral prospection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel magnetic survey pipeline utilizing autonomous rotary-wing UAVs for enhanced mineral prospection.
• To develop and refine a state-of-the-art three-axis fluxgate magnetometer specifically for UAV applications.
• To improve the versatility, speed, and robustness of geophysical surveys in the mining sector.

Main Methods:

• Development of a custom three-axis fluxgate magnetometer with optimized sensor topology and electronics for UAV integration.
• Utilizing stress-annealed CoFeSiB amorphous ribbon in a dual ring-core configuration for high-resolution ferrous mineral detection.
• Implementation of a magnetic survey pipeline designed for autonomous rotary-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Main Results:

• Successful development of a specialized three-axis fluxgate magnetometer suitable for UAV deployment.
• Demonstrated high resolution capable of detecting small concentrations of ferrous minerals.
• Experimental validation in an outdoor environment confirmed the pipeline's efficacy in detecting artificial ferrous anomalies.

Conclusions:

• The proposed magnetic survey pipeline using autonomous UAVs offers a versatile and efficient approach to mineral prospection.
• The custom-developed fluxgate magnetometer meets the resolution requirements for detecting small ferrous deposits.
• This technology advances the application of autonomous systems in geophysical exploration for the mining industry.