CAS & FATIGUE houses look to cover both bases. OAS is already functioning both above and below surface. In addition, recent acquisitions of indurad, the radar sensor-based specialist, and Minnovare, a productivity focused underground suite of solutions, are also significant in this sense – indurad for example has its iProximity suite, which encompasses a range of solutions designed for proximity and collision avoidance in both underground and surface mining operations. That system relies on its stateof-the-art Real-Time Location System( RTLS) technology for 3D Radar Machine Vision, utilising multiple radar transponders to offer redundant measurements, even in challenging scenarios such as behind walls and around corners.
Epiroc – Titan CAS & multi-layered sensing
Epiroc is an important player in the collision avoidance system market with its Titan CAS, the current version of which is Generation 4, launched in 2024. Titan CAS combines low-frequency, time-of-flight, and sub-GHz RF technologies for Epiroc says superior vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian detection. With additional technologies such as AI-vision and GNSS, it argues that the system ensures unparalleled performance, reliability, and scalability. Generation 4
added more functionalities such as an effective advisory zone( Level 8) preceding the intervention zone( Level 9), enabling operators to react promptly to slow down and stop advice. Both the HMI100 display and the Gateway control units now log operational event data, ensuring reliable backup information. Also, dedicated RF channels are allocated for V2V and V2P detection, enhancing detection capabilities.
Another string was also added to the Titan CAS bow in the form of combining it with Onboard, also an Epiroc solution, which uses a disruptive innovation called hybrid positioning, a self-sustained positioning of a vehicle with 5-10 m accuracy – providing navigation without any dedicated infrastructure for positioning. It is based upon cutting-edge sensor fusion, artificial intelligence, advanced mathematics. Titan CAS + Onboard saw the integration of two safety systems that provide both collision prevention and long-range traffic awareness.
IM spoke to Schalk Janse Van Rensburg, General Manager, Epiroc Digital Safety Solutions to understand the progress with its current offerings, along with its future roadmap. First off, with the solution’ s roots in South African company Mernok it acquired in 2023, Epiroc’ s Titan CAS focus like most of the players is partly on the market in South Africa, where CAS is required by law, and it
has a number of sites running there. But at the same time it is also dealing with meeting the requirements of the latest MOSH CPS Blueprint and all the testing involved with that – just like all the other CAS majors.
However, the fact it has been developed and proven in South Africa to a greater extent than many other systems has also given Epiroc Titan a premium status in the overseas market as well; and the combination with Onboard has also helped. Van Rensburg:“ That’ s where we’ re focusing on things like Titan CAS + Onboard. It adds a lot of value to some larger customers with more complex mines, but of course there is an added cost component. And it requires a certain level of network infrastructure. Deployment of Titan CAS and especially with Onboard is more challenging in more developing world markets there tends to be a much higher ratio of people to machines; plus a very large infrastructure but not necessarily with extensive network connectivity.”
Trials are ongoing with some of the top Tier 1 miners in Australia, Canada and Chile. For these customers, Epiroc is looking at options to be able to provide a good level of situational awareness throughout the mines along with CAS but with a lower bar in terms of network.
Looking at Titan CAS itself, Epiroc is very