COLLISION AVOIDANCE
TORSA ’ s take on CAS
Spain ’ s TORSA recently unveiled its next generation Collision Avoidance System for shovels , haul trucks , auxiliary and light vehicles , building on the first version of its system that was deployed at Antamina in Peru . IM spoke to Gabino de Diego , Director Of Business Development , to get more insight in the new solution , which is LiDAR based .
Q When you say your new generation CAS system is designed to perform at Levels 7-9 does that mean the truck can be automatically slowed or stopped ( Level 9 ) and have you proven this yet in testing ( or do you have plans to do this testing )? A Our system has been designed to perform at EMESRT levels 7-9 . For intervention control ( Level 9 ) actions , we have developed a specific hardware and software following the standard ISO 21815 , that contains all the messages and implement the negotiation sequences to connect to the vehicle ' s PDIM to be able to take control of the machine should situation requires it . Additionally , we have a generic input and output interface where to connect analogue and digital signals that will be able to control different devices in the vehicle , other than the PDIM . Currently , we have this system implemented in shovels . For trucks , we are in conversations with the University of Pretoria to have our CAS system tested in their labs by Q1 2023 .
Q It builds on the system you deployed at Antamina but the release mentions that the “ CAS system has clocked up millions of hours of operation to date in various mines ” - can you give any more detail about those locations ? A Our previous generation , 2D CAS , has been installed in Antamina since 2016 in more than 100 vehicles , and the system is still operating . Now , we are running a PoC ( proof of concept ) of the new 3D CAS in Antamina , where they are interested on testing the level 9 capabilities of the new system . Additionally , 3D CAS has been installed in Marcobre and Antapaccay , and we are also taking part in RFQs with other mines in Colombia , Mexico and Chile .
Q Have the deployments been on single trucks , groups of trucks or whole fleets ? A One of the key features of our system is that it provides value from the first instrumented vehicle . Thanks to the 3D LiDAR , CAS system will be able to “ see ” all the objects around it , regardless whether they are tagged , for example , the mining front . Obviously , if the other vehicles are tagged , the information provided by the system to the machinery operator is richer , as it will not only indicate the presence of an obstacle but provide information about the obstacle itself . In the operations we are currently working on , our system has been deployed in more than 200 trucks .
Q Have the deployments been Level 7 and 8 compliant deployments ie where it will give the operator a warning and then advisory when there is a risk of collision ? A Yes , all the deployments we have made to date , have been Level 7 and Level 8 compliant . For Level 8 , we have developed a predictive algorithm that will evaluate the trajectory of two adjacent vehicles and will rate the level of alert based on the probability of those vehicles crossing paths at some point . If the paths will cross but vehicles won ´ t be at the crossing spot at the same time , system will play a low risk alert sound and show a green colour on the display , just to inform to the operator that there is another vehicle approaching . On the other hand , if both vehicles will be at the crossing spot at the same time , system will play a high risk alert sound and show a red colour on the display , instructing the operator to change behaviour to avoid collision .
Q Has your system been proven in challenging environments such as heavy snow or fog and how does it handle these conditions ? A Our CAS system has clocked many hours since the first installation in 2016 and has gone through all weather conditions , showing great performance even in challenging environments . All sensors installed outside the cabin are IP67 and , before deploying them in the field , our engineers have spent many hours testing all the sensors in the labs simulating all possible weather conditions , including snow and heavy rain . We are very concerned about quality . All our products are designed and manufactured in-house , what allows us to control every step of the process . The result is a robust system that will perform in every condition .
Q What are the key differentiators between your system and other CAS systems in surface mining such as those from Hexagon and Wabtec ? A The key differentiator of our system is accuracy : the unique combination of high precision sensors allows our system to measure distances with a tolerance in the region of centimetres . In the field , one centimetre could be the difference between life and death . Additionally , ours is a system born in the mine . Literally , when we started developing it , our engineers had an office in the mine and they would spend time programming and designing the hardware , while getting the feedback directly from the operators , the final users of the system . Our engineers got to know first-hand all the aspects and features that final users of the system would like to see in it . In the end , thanks to this close collaboration , we can say our CAS system has been designed by them and for them .
Q Can you give some customer feedback on the performance and reliability of your system ? A Fortunately , we have received great feedback from our customers about the accuracy and performance of our system . However , the best feedback provided to us was from one operator who told our technicians that he would not operate the shovel because the system had been deactivated . He even called his supervisor to ask them to reactivate the CAS system , arguing he was not able to operate safely if system was not on .
Q Are you active in the South African market ? A After many success stories in LATAM , Torsa is bringing that expertise to South Africa . With a portfolio focused on health and safety and products like their vibration monitor and collision avoidance system , Torsa ’ s goal is to make the work in the mine easier and safer , and improving the life of the people working both in open pit and underground operations . This was demonstrated in 2020 when Torsa ' s vibration monitor received the BHP People ’ s Choice Award . Torsa ’ s South African branch opened in November 2022 , with professionals that will be able to assist every step of the way ; our sales and FAE team will help you decide the best product based on requirements and our team of engineers will install and maintain it in the field for the best performance .
42 International Mining | JANUARY 2023