High bandwidth spherical optical wireless communication for subsea telerobotic mining

Today´s mining is typically done using several techniques that can be categorized in the two broad categories of open pit and underground. Open pit mines typically convert mineralization into ore close to surface with low costs, rapid production techniques on a large scale with powerful explosives, extremely large digging units and trucks. Underground mining typically follows on from open pit mines. Traditionally, underground mining is more selective, the mineralization is higher grade and the mining uses smaller equipment in networks of underground tunnels in several possible configurations. Recently, discussions around mining underwater have begun to reach the mining industry mainstream for two reasons, the first is due to the finding of high grade deposits on the ocean floor by this generation of subsea explorers and the second is the depleting reserves of mineral in traditional terrestrial environments for use by the world. All mines must define, break, dig, and transport material to a processing facility for conversion into usable product for society. This requires a fleet of machines to perform the tasks to be in a commercial operation. While most mining is performed in rock, this paper will discuss mining underwater and the technology Penguin Automated Systems Inc. is currently building to support that kind of mining.