AUTONOMY SENSORS mounted on equipment to bound safety zones , among other applications . Using software to analyse the high-resolution point cloud data , mining engineers and geologists can safely and efficiently characterize geological structures , discontinuities , hangups and over break in large , unsupported openings .
Q Is there now greater " sensor fusion " with autonomous mining control systems being able to react more quickly and independently to situations especially using AI ? A A mining site is an extremely busy , fast-paced and interconnected environment . With specific building instructions and deadlines to meet , having a clear overview of the project is paramount . Since it is virtually impossible to keep track of the hundreds of thousands of variable elements on a mining site , progress tracking was typically accomplished with very sparse spot checks . These processes can lead to costly errors due to misses or delays in detection , which subsequently results in expensive rework .
Integrating LiDAR into autonomous solutions , such as mobile robots , allows them to navigate around mining sites and capture valuable 3D data about the current state of projects . LiDAR is designed to perform in the high-stress environmental conditions found at worksites like wind , rain , snow and ambient lighting issues . AI and sensor fusion solutions using our products have advanced by leaps and bounds since 2012 , and our LiDAR solutions are able to be integrated with technologies like camera and radar where redundancy is needed to make mining efforts smarter , safer and more efficient .
Q What lessons have been learned from other industries in the application of LiDAR in mining such as automotive , etc ? A Velodyne has grown significantly since its invention of 3D LiDAR in 2005 and commencing our work with Caterpillar , vastly expanding our product portfolio . We believe that LiDAR should be the foundation of an autonomous system , as it is a ground-truthing sensing modality which provides precise measurements for free space and object detection . We have a team of top industry talent to design and produce our sensors , with global mass manufacturing capabilities . Velodyne is delivering LiDAR solutions for a variety of applications in a wide range of industries , based on customer feedback and over a decade of experience . We are seeing the consistent implementation of new automation and safety applications based on our pioneering technology , including in mapping , trucking , automotive , mining , smart city , security , industrial , drones and more .
Velodyne continues to develop sensors that are more rugged , higher performing , and cost effective for our customers . Our recent line-up of solid state , embeddable products – our Velarrays and the Velabit – are based on Velodyne ’ s proprietary miniaturised architecture to enable costeffective , high-quality mass production . Due to our expansion into other markets , we have deep expertise in areas such as GPS-denied environments , aerial surveying , and safety and security segments . This has helped us design innovative products and architecture that will address customer needs now and in the future .
robust , capable models we see today .”
He agrees that sensor fusion is key to automated systems , combining the strengths of a number of systems . “ A good example of this is camera and radar , which when combined provide a very strong sensor suite for the mining industry . Radar delivers reliable , all weather sensing whilst cameras can detect RGB information ( colour ) and have extremely high angular resolution .”
Adoption of radar for mission critical applications is rising . Radars from companies
SEPTEMBER 2021 | International Mining 63