FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
continued from page 20
Haul Optimization system has also become
part of the standard fitment of new machines
and is often installed during the machine
build right alongside the OEM commissioning
team. The Titan 3330™ system is comprised
of several sensors that measure the machines
movements and our purpose-built Data
Acquisition module uses the latest edge
computing technology to provide the operator
with the required information instantly right
onboard the machine. The Titan 3330™
system is available with multiple reporting
and integration options. Due to customer
demand, we recently released a new ‘on
demand’ Advanced Analytics and Short
Interval Control platform. The ORION Data
Analytics reporting platform delivers
productivity and machine health insights
directly to operational teams from our suite of
digital products. It enables miners to drill
down into a range of operational metrics,
including dig unit productivity, truck payload
compliance, machine attachment duty and
operator performance. Insights are delivered
via web or mobile platforms, via secure
databases and simple-to-use interfaces.
Additionally, we believe empowering
operational best practice comes from
integrated solutions, so we have an open
third-party interface protocol that can
integrate Titan 3330™ and our other
products, with FMS and operational execution
software platforms.
Q What is next for CR Digital in terms of
solution development?
A We have several products due to be
released in 2020 including a new generation
of GET Toothloss detection for hydraulic
excavators, rope shovels and wheel loaders.
We are also putting the finishing touches on
the expansion of the Titan 3330™ Load Haul
Optimization system to include wheel
loaders. In January, we announced the
acquisition of Seattle based Thunderbird
Mining Systems, a strategic move that further
expands CR Digital's product offering, IP,
sales/marketing and technical support
activities into the blasthole and drilling
markets. Integrating our portfolio of
technologies together will see rapid growth in
real time operational analytics, from drilling
and rock strata, through to load haul of that
same block, we will be able to help
operations hone in on maximised recovery
and high cost per tonne efficiency, now from
drill to mill.
22 International Mining | MAY 2020
underground gold mine in Brazil saw an 11%
increase in fleet production within four months of
deployment of MineOperate UG Pro. “Not only
does UG Pro integrate with Hexagon’s safety,
scheduling and data visualisation tools, it also
synchronises with data from third-party vendors.”
For Daw, such integration is part of what makes
a mine smart. “There’s a huge opportunity within
mining operations to develop these technologies,”
says Daw. “When it comes to smart devices and
smart connected devices, a recurring theme
among the clients I talk to is, how do we get
access to more of this data so we can look at it,
analyse it, and make more proactive decisions?
IoT devices are what will allow us to pull all of the
data from all of these different areas of an
organisation and start to look at trends using
artificial intelligence. Once that ecosystem is
established within our operations, we can make
better, more proactive decisions.”
Wenco resets the bar again with 6.1
In 2018, Wenco Mining Systems reset the bar for
mine productivity, intelligence, and technical
interoperability with the release of its latest fleet
management system – Wenco System 6. The sixth
version of what it calls “the leading open FMS for
mines” added new usability, data handling and
analytics features that drive users to extract even
more unrealised value. In late 2019, Wenco took
the next step forward with the release of System
6.1 with which it says it has advanced the
performance and scalability of System 6 with a
more powerful architecture, improved data filters,
and enhanced system integration.
The biggest update in System 6.1 involves
Wencomine’s new 64-bit architecture. Under the
hood, this update enables the FMS to support
more equipment units and larger operations than
ever before. Each background service now has
more memory allocation, which allows the Wenco
Core Service, the Wenco User Service, and other
essential processes to run with greater performance.
“The transition to 64-bit also comes with
support for ActiveMQ – a more modern, robust,
and reliable way of sending messages between
Wenco software components. Along with the more
powerful architecture, this enhanced messaging
service enables support for remote operations.
Mines can now monitor and control multiple mines
across multiple networks all from one centralised
location – a growing trend as mining gets more
and more digitised.”
“Usability has always stood as a hallmark of
Wenco solutions and the updates in System 6.1
take it even further. New filtering options
throughout the system’s monitoring and control
application, Fleet Control, let dispatchers quickly
and easily focus on the exact units, locations, or
status categories they need to observe more
closely.”
The Production Planning panel of Fleet Control
previously displayed all information available to
aid dispatchers in plotting out their shift. With the
updates in System 6.1, users can now filter that
information to concentrate on particular units and
their performance – a feature especially useful for
sites with multiple dispatchers looking after
different areas of the mine. Filtering by loading
unit, dispatch group, or status category allows
mines to clearly understand relationships between
shovels, trucks, and essential performance metrics
– like projected production rates and average cycle
times.
Route Management has also added filters.
Users can now refine displayed routes by
equipment status categories, reducing screen
clutter by hiding options for loading units that are
down or idle. When those shovels or loaders come
back online, Fleet Control automatically refreshes
the route list to keep dispatchers up to date.
Playbacks now have filters as well. When creating
playbacks of shift activity, dispatchers can filter by
haul cycle, allowing them to link dig and dump
points to the route travelled for each cycle. This
feature makes it easy to trace material as it moved
from dig point to dump, providing answers about
any loads delivered to the wrong location.
The new updates to System 6 also bring deeper
integration between Wencomine and the Wenco
Drill machine guidance system. Mines using
Wenco Drill are now able to run the FMS’s onboard
application, MDT, in tandem with it on their
touchscreens. This integration offers three big
advantages: improved situational awareness in
the pit; stronger data handling in the head office;
and one less monitor in the already crowded drill
cab.
“By integrating Wencomine and Wenco Drill,
drill operators can pay attention to a single
monitor for all of their shift activities. Auto-
switching between drill operation screens and the
MDT on a single monitor reduces the distraction
possible with an abundance of onboard systems.
Plus, there’s no longer a need for an additional
monitor to run the Wenco Drill application, freeing
space in the cab.”
Integrating the two systems gives even further
process enhancements, says Wenco. “In System
6.1, drill operators can badge-in through the
onboard touchscreen and easily access pre-start
checklists, text messaging with other operators
and dispatchers, and options for receiving status
change updates from Fleet Control. Drill KPIs show
on the MDT screen too, for at-a-glance views of
hole counts, average rates of penetration, and
other important indicators. Dispatchers can view
drills in Fleet Control, staying aware of drilling
progress and communicating with drills as
needed.”
“These updates join a host of other
enhancements in System 6.1, all working to