The PERSEPHONE project: Autonomous Exploration and Extraction of Deep Mineral Deposits

PERSEPHONE is a Horizon Europe project (Grant Agreement No.101138451) dedicated to autonomous exploration and extraction of deep mineral deposits. The project has been created in support to the increasing demand for raw materials, which compel European mining companies to extract ore at greater depths. In this framework, current mining operations and traditional technologies face significant challenges in maintaining profitability while aligning with the European Green Deal's environmental objectives and ensuring worker safety. 

To address these challenges and enable sustainable development, PERSEPHONE focuses on developing innovative technologies for resource-efficient extraction and near-mine exploration of critical raw materials. PERSEPHONE’s vision includes reducing the scale of mining equipment to optimize operations in challenging environments, integrating autonomous systems for risk-aware navigation, and digitalization of the extraction process. A key innovation is the creation of digital twins, supported by the validation of key enabling technologies at Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5). Additionally, the project introduces groundbreaking approaches to online near-mine exploration, core analysis, and advanced data analytics for mine expansion and decision support. 

In the first half of the project, several of its key technologies have been tested in the laboratory and controlled underground environments at mine sites. More specifically, the initial tests of autonomy stack for high accuracy navigation have been carried out. Additionally, a multispectral camera has been integrated with a developed autonomy package that combines 3D LiDAR and RGB-D camera. This payload has been mounted on the Unitree robotic platform for the initial combined data collection. 

Ultimately, PERSEPHONE aims to digitalize and automate the mining value chain, advancing towards sustainable, efficient, and safe exploration and extraction practices. The project contributes significantly to achieving the EU’s critical raw material goals while supporting the transition to a greener economy.