What technological solutions have Strayos been working on?

Our focus has shifted towards incorporating greater intelligence into the ore extraction process. One area where significant costs are incurred is drilling and blasting, and many mining operations believe that they can optimize their resource through better dilution control. To address this challenge, we introduced our Ore Dilution Control solution in the form of a generative digital twin.

This solution utilizes existing data to model and analyze each 5 cm block, considering various blasting parameters. Accurately predicting the distribution of waste and ore empowers mining professionals to determine the optimal blasting parameters for reducing waste and maximizing ore recovery. This aligns with their production objectives and mitigates the common issue of dilution.

How is the mining industry embracing new technologies, and what specific advancements are being adopted?

The industry is undergoing a significant transformation both in terms of evaluating new technologies and embracing them wholeheartedly. Technologies such as AI, autonomy and advanced sensor systems are being adopted, marking a departure from the previous resistance and hesitancy towards innovative solutions, and companies have developed a culture of practice that did not exist a few years ago, shifting towards a more open approach of conducing pilot and experimentation projects to test these technologies.

The primary focus remains on achieving a quick return on investment. Companies are eager to see tangible results within a relatively short timeframe, typically ranging from six months to a year. Strayos’ success lies in demonstrating that the implementation process is streamlined, and we have observed positive outcomes in the companies we engage with and where our technology is implemented.

What are some common challenges or barriers that companies face when adopting AI models?

Many companies lack structured data storage practices and diligent data collection efforts necessary for building effective AI models. This becomes a significant barrier since the availability of the right data is crucial for generating meaningful outputs from AI platforms.

Strayos recently partnered with Quantum Systems and Delta Drone. Could you delve into the company’s strategy and how AI combined with drones prove to be powerful?

Our strategic goal for expanding into different markets is to partner with established companies in those regions with a deep understanding of the mining industry’s on-the-ground challenges, enabling us to deliver value to our customers more rapidly. By offering a comprehensive turnkey solution that covers hardware, sensors and software, we provide a seamless end-to-end solution, allowing them to adopt our offerings effortlessly and start benefiting from them immediately.

As data collection becomes more commonplace, combining drones and AI proves to be incredibly powerful. Drones excel at collecting vast amounts of data, but the key lies in automating the analysis process. With the abundance of imagery, videos and surveying data, automation becomes critical in efficient processing and extracting intelligence from this information.

How are Strayos’ AI solutions utilized?

Our platform is utilized in various areas, including drilling and blasting optimization, fragmentation optimization, and geotechnical operations. The operational focus revolves around two key themes; geotechnical analysis and improving ore dilution and fragmentation.

On the geotechnical side, mining companies are eager to leverage our tools to better understand their operations. They seek ways to optimize geotechnical processes and minimize ore dilution. By utilizing our platform, they can capture data before and after blasting, enabling them to generate a dilution factor through algorithms. This valuable information can then be fed back into the model, facilitating continuous improvement and decision-making.

What are Strayos’ goals for the upcoming months?

In 2023 and 2024, we aim to expand the implementation of our new Ore Dilution Control solution globally, with a particular focus on copper and gold mines, as they stand to gain substantial benefits from its utilization.

On the other hand, we have developed a cutting-edge machine vision solution, a 3D AI camera. This solution offers full autonomy, effortlessly collecting data and correlating it to specific material blocks. We enhance operational efficiency and decision-making by providing seamless data collection and analysis.

On the product front, we are also dedicated to expanding our solutions in hyperspectral sensing. We focus on leveraging imagery data and other sensor inputs to generate significant value. Hyperspectral imaging solutions are posed to play a vital role in the future of metal mines, enhancing their capabilities and extracting valuable insights.