Ben Pilkington

Feature Writer

B.A. (Hons) English Language and Literature, M.St. English Language and Literature

Ben Pilkington is a freelance writer who is interested in society and technology. He enjoys learning how the latest scientific developments can affect us and imagining what will be possible in the future.

Since completing graduate studies at Oxford University in 2016, Ben has reported on developments in computer software, the UK technology industry, digital rights and privacy, industrial automation, IoT, AI, additive manufacturing, sustainability, and clean technology.

Ben is happiest on a bicycle, loves sleeping in a tent or under the stars, and can’t function properly without coffee.

Articles from Ben

RockMass Technologies: Streamlining Data Collection in Underground Mining

RockMass Technologies is a Canadian startup that provides a data collection platform for underground mining and related applications. Its co-founder and CEO was recently recognized for this contribution in an industry award.

5 Jan 2023

GreaseBoss: The Digitization of Greasing in the Mining Sector

Australian mining startup GreaseBoss was recently awarded for its innovative automated greasing platform at a mining industry ceremony.

21 Dec 2022

Remote Longwall Operations and the Future of Sustainable Mining

A major mining company, Anglo American, was recently awarded for its innovative use of remote autonomous systems in longwall coal mining.

20 Dec 2022

The Importance of Robotics for Mining Safety

Worker safety, productivity, and sustainability are among the most important factors in effectively operating mines. As a result, robotic and automatic approaches to improve worker safety are at the forefront of research and development in the mining and robotics industries.

29 Nov 2022

Opportunities and Challenges of Lithium Mining

Lithium has become a significantly important mineral for the world economy in the last few decades due to its application in lithium-ion batteries. However, lithium mining poses significant environmental challenges.

31 Oct 2022

How Drones are Lifting Off in the Mining Industry

Drones are becoming increasingly popular in the mining industry due to numerous advantages, including better productivity, safety, and reduced costs. They have a range of applications in the sector, all tied to their ability to enhance data collection for various mining tasks.

29 Sep 2022

Phasing Out Fossil Fuels in Iron Ore Mining: Is it Possible?

Fortescue, an Australian mining company, has announced plans to invest US $6.2 billion during the rest of this decade to remove fossil fuel power sources entirely from its iron ore mining operations.

28 Sep 2022

Study Highlights Risks of Mining to Fish in North America and How Policies Can Be Improved

Recent research has examined how mining in northwestern North America impacts the ecosystems that support salmonids, or ray-finned fish species such as salmon, trout, and chars. The researchers say that a more ecological approach to mine planning can make mining less damaging to these important anim

26 Aug 2022

How is Green Hydrogen Being Used in Mining?

Transportation and mobility tasks in mining operations bear the bulk of the industry’s environmental costs regarding carbon dioxide (CO2) gas emissions. Bulky haulers weighing hundreds of tons consume hundreds of liters of diesel every hour. But this presents a significant opportunity to mining comp

25 Aug 2022

Methods to Predict Mining Conditions in Geotechnically Complex Sites

Predicting mining conditions is a significant part of opening most new mine operations. In geotechnically complex sites, underground, and in remote locations, predicting mining conditions is particularly challenging – and especially important.

24 Aug 2022