COLLISION AVOIDANCE
n Accuracy: Again related to measurement at
the source, “our universal fatigue algorithm
represents world’s best practice in accuracy,
and does not require individual calibration.
Validated independently in both laboratory
and real-life operational settings, our product
has industry-best specificity and sensitivity.”
n Driver-centric: “Given that our product is a
wearable, it is suited to a wide variety of
practical applications outside of traditional
driving and equipment operation.”
GE on fatigue monitoring developments
GE has integrated both Optalert and SmartCap
as part of its GE Digital Mine offering to give
customers the best range of fatigue
management options as part of the overall
digital solution offered. Kevin Shikoluk, Global
Strategic Marketing Leader, Digital Mine, GE
Transportation told IM: “GE Digital Mine is
agnostic when it comes to mining fatigue
monitoring systems so we don’t endorse one
product/solution over another but let the
customer make the selection after which we are
happy to review integration with Collision
Avoidance Systems if driven by the Voice of
Customer with supporting business case. We
don’t offer any sort of exclusivity as the
customer needs to make the end selection. We
believe in providing the largest amount of
decision flexibility possible. We have integrated
GE CAS with SmartCap which was deployed at
AMSA Centinella in Chile. We are also yet to
integrate GE CAS with Optalert which is
scheduled for H1 2018 and driven by Voice of
Customer from key strategic accounts in
Australia and South America. Finally, Newcrest
Mining have just gone to market for mining
fatigue monitoring systems and have short
GE CAS with SmartCap integrated was deployed
at AMSA Centinella in Chile
listed SmartCap and Optalert and have specified
integration with GE CAS with these technologies.”
Caterpillar DSS use growing fast
worldwide
There are few, if any, mine sites in the world that
don’t recognise that operator fatigue and
distraction are issues that need to be
addressed. Over the past decades they have
tried to manage the situation through policies
and procedures, and through various education,
training, scheduling, diet and motivational
efforts. Sites have focused on scheduling and
roster solutions, ensuring that they have the
right schedule to fit the amount of work that has
to be done with the staffing levels that they
have. A lot of good work has been done
providing education and awareness programs
for operators and employees.
Ultimately, though, it is often left up to the
individual operators to manage their own fatigue.
While many shift workers are well-trained and
highly skilled, most have never been trained in
how to deal with fatigue, manage their sleep
schedule or adapt to the social and physical
challenges that come with shift work. So this
work, Caterpillar highlights, is just as important
as the fatigue management systems themselves.
However, fatigue management is a very
important tool, and Caterpillar’s offering is the
Driver Safety System (DSS) which was originally
developed by Seeing Machines but in mining is
now a Caterpillar technology managed and
monitored by Caterpillar exclusively. DSS is
based on eye tracking technology that detects if
a driver is distracted or falling asleep while
operating heavy equipment. Using sensing
equipment that is mounted on the dashboard of
the truck, it tracks head alignment to detect
potential distraction events while also tracking
and analysing eye behaviour to detect signs of
fatigue, such as excessive eye closure and
microsleeps. In a general comparison against
competitors, DSS does not involve wearing
anything and does not involve inputting a code.
There is no physical interaction at all.
IM spoke to Caterpillar’s Fatigue Solutions
Manager Todd Dawson. “Two years ago, we
acquired executive rights to the DSS
technology within Caterpillar’s field of use
and the product has been very well
received. This has sometimes been to the
point where as soon as we have had DSS
certified for mining use in a country, there
are already several operators waiting to
use it.” Caterpillar adds that DSS is now
certified in most of the world including all
the major mining hubs.
Caterpillar also continues to make
improvements to DSS in terms of how well and
how fast the face tracking is done and how
accurately any events are analysed and
interpreted. A key part of any fatigue monitoring
system is the reaction to an event and what
criteria is used to trigger an alarm. Customers
through training are very familiar with what the
system is designed to do. The operator’s safety
is paramount in all situations and they are the
priority, with any other analysis by the customer
JANUARY 2018 | International Mining 41