MINE VENTILATION
“ One of the features we have in Ventsim CONTROL is related to fire simulation ,” Pinedo said . “ We also have this in our Ventsim DESIGN software with scenario-based simulations , but the facility on Ventsim CONTROL connects to all your communication infrastructure underground to take an instant snapshot of the status as a fire is happening .
“ From a planning point of view , this allows operations to have a much quicker response time based on an accurate , real-time picture of what is going on underground . This provides another tool to allow them to take the right decisions when and if needed .”
On the move monitoring
Improving operator safety underground has also been behind recent collaborative moves from Maestro Digital Mine .
The Sudbury-based company has , over the last decade , become synonymous with improving underground mine ventilation safety as well as reducing blast re-entry times , with an offering that includes air quality stations , automated regulators and “ fail-safe ” LED displays . Its core remains IIoT devices and last mile digital networks for underground mines .
At the recent 2022 Investing in African Mining Indaba , in Cape Town , South Africa , Dwyka Mining Services , an authorised reseller of Maestro , made a splash , premiering a new robotic solution fitted with Maestro ’ s IIoT gas sensor .
The Boston Dynamics Spot Enterprise robot , equipped with Maestro ’ s IIoT gas sensor , can be operated on mine sites to detect hazardous gases like carbon monoxide , without putting mining and ventilation teams in danger . Ventilation and mining teams will easily be able to add different gas sensors onto the connected Zephyr Air Quality Station , capturing critical environmental data to proactively identify gas or temperature challenges , according to the companies .
The Boston Dynamics Spot Enterprise is designed to navigate all types of terrain , allowing organisations to automate routine inspection tasks , capture data securely and safely , and allow for streamlined operations in complex and dangerous environments .
Using Spot Enterprise on-board processing , the data is shared wirelessly over Wi-Fi , and gas and temperature sensor readings are captured while the robot is in operation and displayed in real time via the Maestro Link™ Server application . With the addition of a SLAM scanning unit sensor , like the Emesent Hovermap , readings can be saved with precise coordinates in a high-fidelity point cloud that can be exported and examined in a variety of mining software packages , Maestro and Dwyka say .
Michael Gribbons , CEO and Co-Founder of Maestro Digital Mine , said : “ Collaborating with our mud-in-boots partner , Dwyka Mining Services , who are always pushing the envelope with technology integration with pioneering brands like Boston Dynamics , is in turn pushing us to innovate and collaborate with our core purpose of enhancing lives by the pursuit of productivity and safety excellence .
“ This relationship will open up immediate opportunities to Dwyka Mining Services and Maestro in Africa and extend mobile environmental monitoring to our current installations at over 170 mines in 38 countries globally using our patented edge-based IIoT sensor technologies once the solution is fully embedded .”
Jamie van Schoor , CEO of Dwyka Mining Services , added : “ We are excited about extracting value from ‘ no-go ’ and ‘ fly-low ’ mining areas typical at the majority of narrow-reef mining operations in southern Africa where the use of enterprise GPS-denied drones become limited . The Spot Enterprise package allows us to access confined spaces and this information could be used to undertake remote gas inspections so that we can accelerate reentry to target getting ore to surface sooner without compromising safety .”
The debut of the Spot / Zephyr AGS™ combination follows hot on the heels of another partnership with Exyn Technologies that has seen an aerial drone with a Maestro gas monitoring IIoT device fitted on it come to the fore .
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