South African mining experts acquire underground drone maker Inkonova

Inkonova, a Stockholm-based underground drone mapping specialist, has been acquired by mining consultancy firm RAMJACK. While the terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed by the companies, Japan’s Terra Drone Corporation had also announced in 2018 that it had picked up a “significant stake” in Inkonova.

The Swedish company came onto the scene in 2014 with a focus on tilt-rotor technology for racing drones. By the end of 2015, Inkonova had decided to turn its attention to the underground mining sector. Today, it is best known for its Batonomous underground drone which can be used for both inspections as well as 3D mapping in GPS-denied environments. The drone leverages simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technologies for BVLOS flying.

South Africa-based RAMJACK’s prime interest is in sourcing technologies that can increase productivity while reducing safety risks for workers in underground mines. And companies like Inkonova and Emesent are…