Ernest Oppenheimer founded what would become Anglo American in 1917 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Today, the multinational mining company is headquartered in London, England, contributes to 40% of the world’s platinum output, and is perhaps best known for enabling the De Beers diamond company to become a controlling force in the diamond industry. Anglo American continues to make waves by embracing modern technology to enhance its mining operations.

Anglo American began work on the Quellaveco copper mine in Peru in 2018. The mine is one of the world’s largest new copper projects, with reserves exceeding 1.1 billion tonnes and an expected annual output of around 300,000 tonnes of copper during its first decade. Quellaveco requires constant infrastructure monitoring, which traditionally involved costly, time-consuming, and potentially hazardous manual inspections. By partnering with FlytBase, Anglo American has advanced its operations by deploying a fully autonomous drone-in-a-box (DiaB) system at Quellaveco.

FlytBase, founded in 2016 by Nitin Gupta in San Jose, California, specializes in autonomous drone software for enterprise applications. Its flagship platform, FlytNow, enables remote, automated DiaB operations for industries such as security, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response. Designed for scalability and safety, the system supports Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) missions, integrates with leading drone hardware and third-party analytics tools, and offers enterprise-grade security along with Application Programming Interface (API) flexibility for custom workflows.

Furthering the partnership, FlytBase and Anglo American are collaborating with UAV Latam, a leading drone service provider in Latin America founded by Juan Bergelund in 2005. Together, the trio has initiated the first-ever mine drone program on Peruvian soil. UAV Latam supplies the drones used in the autonomous DiaB system at Quellaveco, working closely with FlytBase’s software platform to deliver seamless, fully automated operations. By combining FlytBase’s cutting-edge drone autonomy with UAV Latam’s hardware expertise and regional presence, Anglo American benefits from reliable, remote inspections that improve safety and efficiency at the mine. According to FlytBase, “The drone-in-a-box system operates fully autonomously, conducting routine inspections and collecting critical data without human intervention.”

The drones are housed in secure docking stations where they automatically recharge and upload data to FlytBase’s cloud platform. This integration allows for real-time data processing and actionable insights. As FlytBase explains, their platform provides “seamless data processing and analysis, providing real-time insights into the mine’s infrastructure.” This automation reduces risks and improves efficiency by eliminating the need for manual drone operation.

The technology includes drones equipped with advanced sensors capable of capturing high-resolution imagery and environmental data, enabling detailed examination of structural integrity and environmental impact. This allows early detection of issues and proactive maintenance, supporting Anglo American’s goal to minimize its environmental footprint while optimizing operations. Anglo American has committed to embracing advanced technologies that support safety measures for all employees and improve environmental monitoring systems. “Our strategic use of drones enhances environmental monitoring and safety protocols,” Anglo American states on their website, “aligning with our commitment to sustainable mining practices.”

Anglo American is far from the first mining operation to utilize such drone technology. Other examples include Rio Tinto in Australia, BHP at its copper and iron ore sites, Barrick Gold across its mines in the Americas, Vale in Brazil, and Glencore. All use autonomous drones for inspections, surveying, and data collection to enhance safety and efficiency. FlytBase notes that drone deployment in the mining industry will be more than just a trend. As Anglo American aims to expand drone operations across other mining sites, FlytBase says drones “are expected to play a pivotal role in improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability in mining practices.”

As mining companies navigate increasing demands for sustainability, safety, and operational efficiency, the integration of autonomous drone technology is proving to be a powerful solution. Anglo American’s partnership with FlytBase and UAV Latam at Quellaveco highlights how innovative tools can transform traditional mining practices, offering a model for future operations around the world. With continued investment in drone-based systems, the industry is poised to enter a new era of smarter, safer, and more responsible resource extraction.

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