In a step towards modernising Indiarsquos mining industry the National Institute of Technology NIT Rourkela and IIT ISM Dhanbad have launched a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence CoE aimed at ushering in automation cyber-physical systems and digital technologies into mining operations.
According to a press release the FTBIndashTEXMiN Mining Cyber-Physical Systems Centre jointly inaugurated on Friday at the NIT Rourkela campus is supported by the Department of Science and Technology DoST.
The initiative is a collaboration between NIT-Rrsquos Foundation for Technology and Business Incubation FTBI and TEXMiN a not-for-profit tech company under the Department of Science and Technology housed at IIT Dhanbad.
Rs 200 Lakh Boost for Research Fellowships
Over the next four years the unit will disburse Rs 2 crore in project grants and research fellowships to encourage innovation in mining and allied sectors. Selected researchers and innovators will be given access to cutting-edge labs mentoring support and incubation facilities through FTBI.
The collaboration aims to bring together academia startups and industry to build a more efficient and future-ready mining ecosystem.
The release also stated that elected researchers and innovators will be given access to cutting-edge labs mentoring support and incubation facilities through FTBI to support deep-tech solutions that address some of the most pressing challenges in mining from safety risks and environmental damage to inefficiencies caused by outdated manual systems and fragmented data operations.
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Next-gen Tools to Tackle Legacy Issues in Mining
Traditional mining practices in India have long struggled with poor safety standards slow productivity and a lack of real-time monitoring. The new CoE intends to tackle these issues using cyber-physical systems CPS.
The team will work on developing smart wearables and AI-powered risk alert systems to enhance miner safety. It will use digital twins and sensor-driven platforms to simulate mine conditions identify hazards and improve decision-making.
The FTBI-TEXMiN Cyber-Physical Systems Centre also plans to improve exploration through drones LiDAR and geo-intelligence tools that offer faster and more precise mapping of mineral deposits according to reports.