MINE LIGHTING
Smart and scalable
Phoenix Lighting is another company at the forefront of the smart lighting evolution in mining . IM spoke to Nate Klieve , VP of Product Management & Development about its latest innovations , notably its new ModCom ® 3 Series smart lighting technology with colour tuning , integrated lighting controls and perimeter optics
Q Is the new Modcom ® 3 Series smart lighting focussed on shovels / excavators or is it equally applicable to trucks ? A The ModCom ® 3 as a product is geared toward large digging equipment ( shovels , draglines and large excavators ). However , the technology that makes the ModCom 3 “ smart ” is completely applicable to all mobile equipment on-site as well . We have constructed the system in a way that will be completely scalable and allow for Phoenix lights to play a key role in the smart mines of the future .
Q For both machines ( trucks and loading tools ) can you outline the different ways in which lighting is used and therefore the different attributes needed for each application ? A I think about it in three ways : on mobile equipment , much of the lighting is geared toward aiding the operator in direction of travel activities . On digging and loading equipment , much of the light is geared towards payload optimisation . And in both , lighting is all about enhancing safe operations . Traditionally , lighting to accomplish the above three has basically meant , as much light as possible without regard to really addressing situational jobs or conditions . Glare towards a truck operator produced by an oncoming truck . Glare produced by safety lights on and around digging equipment towards approaching trucks . Correlated Colour Temperature ( CCT ) of the light output and its interaction with the environment ( dust / fog ). Technology allows us to better address these and more , making mines even more productive and more safe .
Q Does the operator do the colour tuning themselves ? Is there not an option for the light to sense the conditions and alter its own attributes independently or is this something you are still working on ? A With the foundational controls we have developed , anything is possible going forward . We have already experimented with automatic controls and adjustments of the lights . What we have learned so far is , most equipment operators don ’ t necessarily like a major system , like lighting , to make changes on their own . Simple dawn / dusk settings are more acceptable than some sort of sensor that detects fog and automatically and makes changes to the machine ’ s lights . On the flip side , we have a lot of research that indicates too much operator customisation can have the opposite impact of what we desire . Giving them complete granular ability to control each light , its intensity and its colour , can create unsafe situations or slow productivity through ‘ tinkering ,’ as well as drawing out the shift change process ( what one operator and the next prefer is rarely the same ). Like most useful IoT devises in our personal lives , we are starting with a simple to use and intuitive approach that gives the operator some ability to use pre-set ‘ scene settings ’ via a simple to understand user interface . If fog rolls in , hit the fog button , and the lights with adjust to an optimised setting determined through our research and administrative discussions with the mine site .
Phoenix Lighting ' s new ModCom ® 3 Series smart lighting technology offers colour tuning , integrated lighting controls and perimeter optics
Q Equally as the machines become more autonomous does that mean the lighting strategy will change – already for example , is the lighting setup for autonomous trucks different to that from manned trucks – ie is it more tuned to the remote operators monitoring the trucks from an ops centre as opposed to someone in the cab ? A You are spot on . As equipment becomes more autonomous , the lighting strategy will need to work well with remote monitoring systems and cameras . Those personnel will still need to be able to intervene when necessary and they won ’ t know when it is necessary if they cannot see . Therefore , the flexibility of what we have developed is so critical . It is the foundation of giving one light the ability to be fine-tuned for both manned , and unmanned operations .
Q Does greater autonomy also mean in some cases more lighting will be needed , for example to allow more camera coverage of work areas ? A We believe so , yes . Autonomous equipment and the cameras involved are not trying to do the same work as your video doorbell . It is critical to productivity , machine health and safety that they can see fine details of a shaft spinning , or a gear tooth wearing . Wherever the camera is aimed , someone will need to be able to see what it sees in fine detail at any moment . Lighting will be required for this .
Q Is glare more of an issue for more mobile equipment like trucks rather than shovels – how do the new Sturdilite ® Master Series DC Work Lights address this ? A In general , yes . Mobile equipment and their operators are constantly operating in a new environment with new outside factors as they traverse a site . They can pick up glare from equipment of their own type in two-way traffic , they can pick up glare from large area lights in and around infrastructure and they can pick up glare from the digging and loading equipment they are approaching . The Master Series uses proprietary optics designed to provide a distinct ‘ cutoff ’ of light upward . Simplistically , putting the light where you want it , not where you don ’ t . Traditional LED optics put light out in a symmetrical pattern meaning the ‘ cone ’ of light is equally spreading the light up and down . Our new optics cut the light off below the right height of an approaching operator , yet provide ample light for its operator to safely monitor direction of travel . personnel locating technology that enables instant roll calls and visibility to provide immediate assistance to those in need . You can take advantage of machine condition monitoring services , overseeing the performance of any critical equipment . This promotes scheduled maintenance well in advance before any costly failures or downtime occurs . It ’ s possible to roll out a whole array of sensors to monitor noise , pollution , air quality and other conditions in realtime in any area around the site .”
The company argues that the potential is
limitless and the number of IoT services to choose from grows every day . “ Coolon lights provide access to innovative technologies and this allows sites to digitise the hardest part of the plant in a seamless , efficient and costeffective way that causes no disruptions to the
56 International Mining | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021