COLLISION AVOIDANCE
common interface protocol allows PDS controls in mixed equipment fleets . It also includes collaboration with the ICMM Risk Committee , ICMM Collaborative Technology Acceleration Summits and ongoing support for the mentioned ICMM Initiative for Cleaner Safer Vehicles ( ICSV ) programme . And it covers supporting and contributing to the industry review of the Australian Coal Industry ’ s Research Program ( ACARP ) Proximity Detection System Validation Framework Project C26028 , which also involves Mining3 . EMESRT has also financially supported the development of the ICSV Knowledge Hub for Vehicle Interaction , with the understanding that the underlying platform would be used on future EMESRT topic specific Knowledge Hubs .
ISO21815 progress so far
Currently the ISO lists three parts of the 21815 protocol – Part 1 : General requirements , Part 2 : Onboard J1939 communication interface and Part 3 : General risk area and risk level . Part 1 was released as a draft for comment in March 2020 and subsequently published . As stated , publication of Part 2 is imminent which will be followed by Part 3 . Adhering to the ISO21815 protocols even though only the general requirements have yet been formally established has become the global standard which PDS technology suppliers and the mines themselves have sought to meet .
Companies currently claiming to have systems that meet ISO21815 and EMESRT Level 9 standards include Strata Worldwide and its HazardAvert system , Schauenburg Systems ’ CMS , and Booyco Electronics ’ CXS , all mainly focused on underground , plus in surface mining Hexagon ’ s Vehicle Intervention System ( VIS ), part of its HxGN MineProtect portfolio and Wabtec ' s Collision Awareness System , part of its Wabtec Digital Mine suite of solutions . In Germany , Becker Mining Systems is set to launch a Level 9 system for underground in 2021 , while numerous other players are also at various stages of testing and rollout .
The University of Pretoria has also developed a test to check compliance of both OEMs and CAS vendors to the latest draft of ISO / DTS21815-2 ( the CAN protocol ).
Mining3 to release testing methodology
Mining3 described its role to IM relative to collision avoidance technology as one of assisting the industry to develop a standardised testing methodology of the industry ’ s various PDS systems as it points out that CAS Level 9 really requires proof that the fully autonomous element of vehicles taking their own action to avoid hazards really work . Susan Grandone , Mining3 COO told IM : “ They require peer to peer communication and ‘ sight ’ of each other as well as AI to assess and make decisions on the fly . This capability is simply not realised yet . However , because lives continue to be at risk , it is necessary to provide interim and transitional solutions . ACARP ,
PROVIX ' s proven underground camera tech
Cameras are also playing a crucial role in collision avoidance . PROVIX LHD camera systems have been implemented this year at Volcan ’ s lead-zinc-silver mining operations in Peru to prevent collisions between personnel and equipment . Volcon completed a fleetwide project to analyse the effectiveness of the PROVIX camera system .. The intuitive LHD camera systems were successfully tested and implemented at Glencore ’ s Kidd Creek mine in Canada back in 2012 and have been deployed at many other mines since including in Canada alone at Pure Gold ’ s Madsen , Newmont ’ s Borden , Diavik Diamond Mines , Evolution Mining ' s Red Lake plus Barrick Gold and Kirkland Lake Gold sites .
PROVIX comments : " Canadian mines have reduced interactions between heavy equipment and personnel due to the advent of collision avoidance systems . The LHD camera system project involved designing , testing and deploying a robust video camera system that does not require or allow any operator input . PROVIX integrated the camera system into the electrical control system of the LHD to ensure that all mobile equipment operation and maintenance standards were met . Kidd Creek worked with PROVIX to design the camera system and once the prototype was ready to deploy , Laurentian University analysed the effectiveness of the camera system through established Line of Sight [ LOS ] testing methods . Although the first systems were deployed on Sandvik loaders , the PROVIX interface panel was adapted to standardise connection to any type of underground equipment ."
The cameras are positioned on underground trucks and LHDs in particular to eliminate blind spots , minimise equipment damage and maximise the operator ’ s field of view . Opposite to the operator , two far side cameras are positioned to maximise visual awareness of the entire blind side which cannot be seen from the driver ' s seating position . The front camera is positioned on a light bar or the cab roof to achieve maximum forward visibility over a loaded bucket . The rear camera provides a full field of view behind the equipment . Each of the cameras provides part of a 360 ° view around the equipment .
LOS to ground level has been improved from values of 40 m to < 4 m around the perimeter of the machine when the LHD bucket is down . LOS to a standing operator in front of the machine when operating with a full bucket has been reduced from more than 60 m to < 20 m . LOS to a standing operator height is excellent for the entire 1 m which is the established testing boundary around the machine . They provide operators with more situational awareness and enhanced vision through expanded sightlines and “ operators who have expanded vision and heightened situational awareness do not have to reduce speed as often . Decreased travel and trip times are the results .”
There are additional benefits for remote LHD operation , as the camera system is enabled for wireless video transmission to a safe operator station locally or over the network for surface operation . Remote operation requires an additional camera ( s ) deployed on the operator ’ s cab side . An integrated camera system that is suitable for both remote and manned operation reduces lost time when changing between the two operating modes and the cost associated is reduced .
EMESRT and Mining3 support and are working on a single , unified industry testing methodology with minimum baseline tests that are reliable and measurable for end users to acquire scientific facts and data quickly and cost effectively to understand which systems are best suited to their needs , operations , and environment . The added benefit of the framework is that suppliers can also employ the testing methodology to provide end users confidence but also to improve their products from the information acquired .”
Grandone says that the test methodology is not meant to compare one system against another or to determine whether a particular system works or doesn ’ t work per se . “ It is meant to provide knowledge about the various sensors and sensor suites used in said systems - what they are , how they work together , the types of applications / environments they can be used most effectively , where they cannot be used effectively , the different levels of granularity provided by said sensors ( such as high-precision GPS versus standard GPS ) and so on .”
Mining3 also has been developing and “ testing ” a test methodology using a Cat 777 haul truck , a light vehicle and other objects at its testing proving ground site in Pinjarra Hills , Queensland , to provide knowledge to end users on what sort of testing they should require and what sort of results they should look for and what those results mean . “ We ’ ve also identified and specified a design of experiments ( DOE ) for said tests , a roadmap and ‘ blueprint ’ relative to a data acquisition system ( how to connect it and calibrate it ), that would be required to collect the test data , scripts that should be used to compile the raw data acquired and analyse data , fully understand what your data tells you , and perhaps most importantly , what cannot be safety tested and should be tested in a simulation environment .”
Mining3 refers to this suite of elements as a PDS toolkit . “ End users need tools that help them to make
56 International Mining | JANUARY 2021