Design and Development of Sensing Techniques and Systems for In-Situ Copper Ore Quality Assessment at the Excavation Stage (PhD viva voce)

Abstract: The development of reliable sensing technologies for real-time, in-situ ore quality assessment remains an open challenge in intelligent mining systems. Conventional ore grading methods are laboratory-based and require sample extraction and analysis. Consequently, decisions regarding ore handling are often deferred until after transportation and processing, resulting in significant expenditure of energy, water, and operational resources on low-value material. These limitations motivate the development of non-contact sensing methodologies that can be integrated directly into excavation equipment to enable immediate ore characterization at the point of extraction. This thesis presents and experimentally validates non-contact electrical sensing frameworks for in-situ copper ore quality assessment integrated directly into an excavation bucket. Two complementary sensing approaches are developed: a capacitively coupled resistance-based method and an inductively coupled planar coil-based method. The capacitive approach employs interdigitated sensors and synchronous demodulation to estimate bulk ore properties and enable ore classification. To overcome the limitations caused by ore moisture, an inductive sensing framework based on planar coils exploiting self- and mutual-inductance variations is proposed. A resonant bridge-based inductance measurement technique is further developed to enhance sensitivity by converting small inductance changes into measurable phase variations. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of reliable, non-contact, and economically viable excavation-stage copper ore assessment, contributing to intelligent mining and improved resource efficiency. Details of the work will be presented during the viva voce examination.

Event Details
Title: Design and Development of Sensing Techniques and Systems for In-Situ Copper Ore Quality Assessment at the Excavation Stage (PhD viva voce)
Date: July 08, 2026 at 03:00 PM
Venue: Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/nvw-xuiu-def)
Speaker: Ms. Catherine Thomas (EE21D068)
Guide: Dr. Boby George
Type: PHD seminar