Caterpillar, for one,
has developed a
system for semi-
autonomous
operation of LHDs
called Command for
Underground, which
has components
purpose-built
for underground
mining, with rugged
features targeted
to underground
applications.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
When a miner enters a zone, the system sends a warning through a flashing light and buzzing
sound to alert them that they are entering a dangerous area.
shape and size of the vehicle’s magnetic
field as the waves will penetrate the rock
walls and other obstructions that limit
what operators and pedestrians view.
“If the pedestrian is behind another
vehicle, for example, or behind a corner
in the tunnel, the proximity detection
system must be able to pick up and
pinpoint their position — and this is
what VLF allows us to accomplish so
effectively with our PDS solution,”
he says.
The company has leveraged VLF
technology to afford valuable functionality
for mine safety initiatives; among the
most important of these is the creation
of detection ‘zones’ within the magnetic
field that trigger specific greater operator
warnings and subsequent actions.
“Our technology allows us to define
the accuracy of these zones to within
very low deviation tolerances,” says
Schommer. “For instance, our first zone
of safety may be 20 metres from the
PRODUCT FOCUS
The Booyco PDS is robustly constructed ensuring its durability under operational conditions.