AUTONOMY SENSORS
Paul Moore spoke to Laura Wrisley , VP of Sales , Velodyne Lidar , about the technology evolution in mining
Q In the early days of autonomous mining fleets , was it a case of using the best available LiDAR from other industries and making it work for mining ? A Velodyne is the pioneer of 3D LiDAR , jump-starting the autonomous industry with the invention of real-time surround view LiDAR technology . One of our first large customers was Caterpillar , who chose our rotational products to equip off-road vehicles in the areas of mining , construction , quarry and aggregate , earth-moving and worksite planning . Our LiDAR technology allowed Caterpillar to create a high-resolution 3D virtual map of site surroundings , detecting obstacles and enabling safe navigation and route planning . This has helped to advanced safety and efficiency at mining sites . We ’ ve leveraged key learnings from this partnership which helped us to adapt , ruggedise and innovate our technology . Through the ever-growing adoption of Velodyne ’ s LiDAR , we have enabled the expansion of autonomous solutions and broadened our impact in not just the mining industry , but a wide variety of industries worldwide . Use of LiDAR has grown to include automotive , industrial sites , robotics , drones , mapping , smart cities and security .
Q What unique challenges eg vibration , dust , weather etc . do mining bring to LiDAR whether surface or underground and how are the latest LiDAR sensors supplied to mining addressing these ?
Velodyne says it is the pioneer of 3D LiDAR , jump-starting the autonomous industry with the invention of real-time surround view LiDAR technology
A Unstable geological structures and loose ground within large , unsupported underground openings ( stopes , raises , drifts , etc ) are often the sources of ground falls that can endanger personnel , underground infrastructure , and equipment . The traditional method used by mining engineers to regularly inspect these areas can be time consuming , produce poor quality , incomplete scans , and place personnel in hazardous environments .
Our broad range of products offer the ability to automate surveying and inspection by generating a 3D virtual map of the surrounding environment . Our LiDAR solutions are optimal for industrial applications requiring precise measurements , object-tracking , and the powering of autonomous movement . Our newest directional , solid state sensors such as the Velarray M1600 , Velarray H800 and Velabit offer high-resolution , reliability , and a variety of ranges in compact form factors . Our sensors can be embedded in mobile machinery to enable safe navigation or more rugged , more durable , more power efficient , and more affordable than most of the other LiDAR products on market . Similarly , this ecosystem maturity , together with highresolution point cloud data , is what has enabled command and control systems with computing power and perception software to become more efficient . Ouster expects to improve the performance of its digital LiDAR over time in line with Moore ’ s Law as costs continue to fall , ultimately enabling LiDAR ubiquity so that many more applications beyond autonomous mining equipment can be brought to market to improve safety , efficiency , and quality of life .”
Quanergy partners with Agia for mining markets in Latin America
Quanergy Systems Inc , a leading provider of OPA-based solid state LiDAR sensors and smart 3D solutions for automotive and IoT , has announced a partnership with Agia Solutions , a technology system integrator serving Peru , Argentina , Chile , and Uruguay .
Headquartered in Peru , Agia Solutions was established in 2007 as a technology system integrator focusing on digital transformation for traditional sectors to optimise the production process , improving occupational health and safety , and increasing quality of work and urban life .
“ LiDAR is a powerful IoT solution that is rapidly expanding into new markets , providing immense value for a wide variety of applications across many different industries . For example , in the mining industry , LiDAR plays a broad range of versatile roles - from providing unmatched accuracy and reliability for perimeter protection and access control to precisely monitoring bulk materials , accurately surveying topography , enabling collision avoidance for mining vehicles , and much more ,” said Frederico Argerich , General Manager of Agia Solutions . “ We are thrilled to partner with Quanergy to add LiDAR to our existing technology portfolio and bring this advanced technology to our customers for the first time .”
Quanergy is the first LiDAR solution provider to partner with Agia . In addition to providing smart 3D LiDAR , Quanergy also brings to the partnership a proven record and expertise in security , industrial automation , and mapping . Agia will now offer Quanergy ’ s high-performance LiDAR platform , along with its proprietary perception software , QORTEX™ , to improve safety and security , increase productivity , and optimise efficiency for their customers . Both companies are Milestone partners and Quanergy ’ s LiDAR solutions are Milestone approved , enabling easy integration across Agia ’ s technology portfolio .
“ As Quanergy expands into new markets , it is crucial for us to seek partners that are excited to harness new technologies and innovation to solve their customers ’ challenges ,” said Tony Rigoni , Director of Industrial Market Development & Alliances . “ Quanergy ’ s partnership with Agia brings the power of LiDAR into new use cases in security and industrial markets , which optimise safety and efficiency .”
The unstoppable rise of radar
Sam Wood , Business Development Manager at Navtech Radar told IM that in the mid-2000s when autonomous mining fleets were being developed , sensors for autonomy were fairly limited . Radars that were available at the time were generally simple 24 GHz radars from the automotive industry that measured only onedimensional distances . The performance of these early sensors limited the extent to which radar could be applied to autonomous mining fleets ; they were mostly used for simple obstacle detection .
“ Now with the evolution of 77 GHz radar and advances made by industry leading companies like Navtech Radar , the full potential of radar for autonomy has been unlocked . New generations of radar are rich data sources providing far more quality detail about the world around them .” Wood says that with this increase in available data , sophisticated solutions can be developed such as Terran360 by Navtech Radar that provides answers to fundamental questions for autonomous systems , such as ‘ Where I am I ?’ ( localisation ) and ‘ How I am I moving ?’ ( odometry ). “ These valuable functionalities unlock the full potential of autonomous
operations and elevate radar sensors to become indispensable for autonomous mining fleets .”
Radar ’ s longer wavelength is unaffected by rain , fog , dust or dirt giving the sensor a very large operating window . “ Radar ’ s reliable
International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2021