Remotely Piloted Aircraft System With Internet Link Launched In Odisha’s MCL

New Delhi: In a first, the Coal India Ltd (CIL) has launched a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) at Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) to view real-time video of drones operating in the mines through internet.

Designed by the MCL’s Innovation Cell and the Department of E&T, the portal named ‘Vihangam’ for remote monitoring was created by a Mumbai-based start-up of drone manufacturing, robotics and automation.

This state-of-art initiative will enable the company to access real-time video through the internet and pave the way for other allied uses of drones in mines.

It may be noted that the Ministry of Civil Aviation had granted permission to Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd (OMCL) to use drones for aerial survey of its three mines at Daitari, South Kaliapani and Kodingamali in October last year.

New Project

Chairman of CIL Pramod  Agrawal laid the foundation stone for Rs 285.05 crore first mile connectivity (FMC) project Lajkura SILO, which would add 15 million tonne per annum despatch capacity to the MCL. The Chairman also commissioned four 100 tonne dumpers and one mobile water sprinkler at Samleshwari OCP.

The MCL is implementing nine FMC projects to provide pollution-free rake loading system at a cost of Rs 3,600 crore. This will also generate a despatch capacity of 126 million tonne per year by 2024.