Intelligent Mining Road Object Detection Based on Multiscale Feature Fusion in Multi-UAV Networks

In complex mining environments, driverless mining trucks are required to cooperate with multiple intelligent systems. They must perform obstacle avoidance based on factors such as the site road width, obstacle type, vehicle body movement state, and ground concavity-convexity. Targeting the open-pit mining area, this paper proposes an intelligent mining road object detection (IMOD) model developed using a 5G-multi-UAV and a deep learning approach. The IMOD model employs data sensors to monitor surface data in real time within a multisystem collaborative 5G network. The model transmits data to various intelligent systems and edge devices in real time, and the unmanned mining card constructs the driving area on the fly. The IMOD model utilizes a convolutional neural network to identify obstacles in front of driverless mining trucks in real time, optimizing multisystem collaborative control and driverless mining truck scheduling based on obstacle data. Multiple systems cooperate to maneuver around obstacles, including avoiding static obstacles, such as standing and lying dummies, empty oil drums, and vehicles; continuously avoiding multiple obstacles; and avoiding dynamic obstacles such as walking people and moving vehicles. For this study, we independently collected and constructed an obstacle image dataset specific to the mining area, and experimental tests and analyses reveal that the IMOD model maintains a smooth route and stable vehicle movement attitude, ensuring the safety of driverless mining trucks as well as of personnel and equipment in the mining area. The ablation and robustness experiments demonstrate that the IMOD model outperforms the unmodified YOLOv5 model, with an average improvement of approximately 9.4% across multiple performance measures. Additionally, compared with other algorithms, this model shows significant performance improvements.