UAV Irrigation Line Placement on Steep Heap Leach Slopes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for placing irrigation lines on heap leach pads are labor-intensive, costly, and inefficient, particularly on steep and uneven surfaces, limiting their ability to operate effectively and safely.
Innovation Solution
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with irrigation line support structures and navigation systems to lift, transport, and position irrigation lines on heap leach pads, allowing for precise placement and alignment on sloped surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wheeled or tracked mobile lifting and installation machinery is used, then the irrigation lines can be placed on accessible areas, but the machinery cannot operate effectively and safely on steep slopes and inaccessible areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional wheeled or tracked mobile machinery with an unmanned aerial vehicle system that uses aerodynamic lift and propulsion to transport irrigation lines. The UAV system eliminates the need for ground-based mechanical systems, enabling operation on steep slopes and inaccessible areas where traditional machinery cannot function safely or effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from ground-based horizontal transport to aerial three-dimensional transport. The UAV system operates in the air space above the heap leach pad, allowing irrigation lines to be delivered to and placed on steep slopes and inaccessible areas that are unreachable by conventional ground machinery
2Productivity
If labor-intensive conventional methods are used, then irrigation lines can be placed on heap leach pads, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV system performs the entire irrigation line placement process autonomously without requiring human workers to manually handle the lines on the heap. The system self-navigates, self-positions, and self-releases the irrigation lines at the correct locations, dramatically reducing both installation time and labor costs while maintaining precision placement capability
3Weight of moving object
If heavy machinery is used for irrigation line placement, then lines can be transported on flat ground, but the machinery is too heavy and cumbersome for steep and uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy ground-based mechanical lifting and transport equipment with a lightweight UAV system. The UAV uses aerodynamic forces rather than mechanical wheels or tracks, eliminating the weight and ground contact requirements that prevent operation on steep and uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The invention moves the transport function from the ground plane to the air space dimension. By operating aerially, the system bypasses the limitations of ground-based heavy machinery, allowing lightweight UAVs to access steep slopes and uneven terrain that would be inaccessible to conventional equipment
Data Source
AI summary
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (“UAV”) system includes a UAV configured for lifting, positioning, and placing irrigation lines on a heap including side slopes. The UAV can be equipped with an irrigation line support structure configured for supporting, transporting and/or releasing one or more irrigation lines. Placement of the irrigation lines via the UAV system can enable accurate distribution of raffinate solutions to enhance leaching efficiency in areas which are typically difficult to access.