Swiss company Leica Geosystems Mining specialises in fleet management, GPS guidance and autonomous machine control for mining and is utilising AIMEX for the release of its latest generation of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Aibotix Aibot X6 hexacopter UAV is one such product, designed to cater to a wide variety of mining applications.

UAVs are used for aerial mapping and imagery in mining as an alternative to costly and time-consuming piloted planes and helicopters.

Leica Geosystems Geospatial solutions division general manager Rüdiger Wagner says the Aibot X6 hexacopter features multi-sensor, intelligent guidance systems that are safe and easy to operate.

“For many critical applications, access is risky, impossible or simply too time-consuming using conventional methods or platforms,” he said.

“We chose to distribute the Aibot X6 because it's one of the best aerial platforms available for safe, reliable manoeuvring of important payloads.

“This UAV mirrors the high standards for which our brand is known, making it the right choice for global distribution.”

Aibotix managing director Joerg Lamprecht said Leica Geosystems was an ideal partner for distributing its products.

“This is exciting teamwork from two companies that deliver pioneering solutions to difficult problems, especially when Leica Geosystems has been doing so for nearly 200 years,” he said.

“Existing segments will benefit and new markets will be discovered as great products from Leica Geosystems reach new heights in more places on Aibotix UAVs.”

Additionally, Leica Geosystems will promote its Swissdrone Dragon 35 dual-rotor UAV, which was launched at Minexpo 2012 in Las Vegas, US.

The Aibot X6 and Swissdrones will feature at the Leica Geosystems Mining booth (stand 1307, Hall B) at AIMEX.